Covid-19 briefing 2
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Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been undertaking a survey about the impact of service changes on their health and care due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This report is the second briefing in a series and covers the period 11 June to 1 July 2020. During this time, they received 252 completed responses.
They continued to receive many messages thanking NHS staff, care and other key workers. People were also concerned about the adequate safety, health and wellbeing of staff, and resources for staff to carry out their jobs.
The impact of the pandemic has meant that using health services has led to both better and poorer experiences for people. Four out of five people felt their experience of care was good or excellent. One in four people said that communication about healthcare changes had been good or excellent, a third said it had been poor or very poor.
People are worried about managing their health conditions where treatment has been paused. They are struggling to find answers as to how long the delays will be and the effect this will have on their illness and prognosis. People have found the NHS campaign urging them to use healthcare services to be confusing where services have not been running.
Nearly a third of people put off seeking help for their health – for both minor problems and potentially serious conditions.
Over half of those who needed support turned to their family, friends, neighbours. A third were able to manage without additional support. Online shopping services have proved beneficial.
Changes affected just over half of all people who receive social care or support services for themselves or someone they care for. Nine out of ten rated their experiences of the changes as less than good.
Three out of four people said their mental health or wellbeing had been affected in some way. A quarter of people who needed help had not been able to access any.
People have found it harder to keep up to date with the changes to information and advice around how to keep safe. Nevertheless, they have said that it is still relatively easy to know where to find the information.