The experiences of people working in health and care services during the Covid-19 outbreak - Calderdale
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To gather a full understanding of the experience of staff working in health and care services during the COVID-19 pandemic, Healthwatch Calderdale used a variety of different engagement approaches and tools such as a survey and focus groups. We also asked people to share their experiences with us in creative ways such as stories, pictures, poems and word clouds. There were 49 responses to the Calderdale staff survey.
People commented on their wellbeing. They appreciated supportive colleagues and managers, but others felt the impact of isolation when working from home, and feeling they had to work long hours. Many felt stressed and anxious about working during the pandemic.
Some felt that they managed to adapt their service delivery. Staff commented how they had been able to adapt quickly to change. However, they experienced problems getting a good work/life balance at a time when work was particularly challenging
Staff were able to implement safety measures and implement the wearing of PPE quickly, but some experienced problems in obtaining suitable items quickly. Others couldn’t self-isolate when colleagues had Covid-19 or weren’t allowed to work from home.
Most staff felt that delivering services online and having interaction with their colleagues online had gone well. Some staff were reluctant to use digital technology or felt it took longer to resolve IT issues when working remotely.
The report finishes with an analysis of comments by different services.