Experiences of health, care and support services in Sheffield during the COVID-19 pandemic
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Healthwatch Sheffield undertook research about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on health and social care services. They undertook a survey to which 567 people responded between late May to late July 2020. They also gathered feedback from Zoom meetings allowing them to hear from diverse groups.
The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted people’s mental health more than their physical health. Some people were not accessing services due to fear of catching the virus. A quarter had extra or new care and support needs because of the pandemic.
For many people treatment was stopped, postponed or cancelled, resulting in unmet need. Telephone appointments were welcomed by some but were not always a suitable option, particularly for deaf people.
There was lack of clarity around social care support during the pandemic but front-line staff were praised for their good work.
Charities, community groups and organisations provided valuable person-centred support for people during the pandemic. However, some people couldn’t access support, particularly those who had no internet access.
These have been particularly challenging times for carers, for whom there was lack of respite provision. Young carers felt that it had been more difficult to take a break from their caring responsibilities.
The report also looks at the impact of the pandemic on different communities and what changes people wanted to keep.
The report contains 6 recommendations to address the issues raised in the report.