Public views on health and care during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Healthwatch Cheshire East and Healthwatch Cheshire West and Chester undertook a survey of Cheshire residents’ views and experiences during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  This report is based on 1,121 responses from May to 3 July 2020. 

The most common places people have been accessing information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have been through television, radio, newspaper and national organisation websites such as GOV.UK and the NHS. Most respondents have been able to access information regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the format they needed.

Nearly half of all respondents have reported not feeling comfortable either making, travelling to, or attending appointments, or feel that they would be overburdening healthcare services if they did.  The most common differences people experienced in accessing healthcare due to Coronavirus was people’s GP appointments taking place over the telephone or by video call, increased waiting times for prescriptions, and being unable to find the over the counter medication required in shops and pharmacies.  

Communication around changes of services due to COVID-19 was mixed according to our respondents, in some cases it was clear what changes were being made either due to signage, online information, or the service contacting individuals, but in other cases people reported no contact or unclear information

Many people’s responses broadly talk about delays or reductions in care across Cheshire during the Coronavirus pandemic. People talk about postponements in the implementation of care packages and assessments, and in some cases, concerns were raised about care packages not being implemented at all or being brought to an end due to the effects of the pandemic. All comments regarding care homes referred to a relative or friend that people had been unable to visit.