Experiences of health and social care in Rutland during the Covid-19 lockdown
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Healthwatch Rutland published a separate analysis of data about local residents’ experience of health and care during the Covid 19 pandemic. This data was part of a bigger survey by Healthwatch and the three Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. In all, 135 Rutland people responded to the survey. The greatest proportion of respondents were in the 60+ age group.
Rutland people mostly found it easy to access and understand information about health and care services during the lockdown. The most common source of information was the internet, the media (newspapers, television, etc.) or email.
Approximately one third of the respondents felt that they had not been kept sufficiently informed about GP surgery changes. Concerns were expressed about people who do not have access to the internet and about lack of clarity and detail in information and advice. There are indications that the younger age groups have found it not so easy to either access information or interpret it and were less able to understand how to use GP services
Over half of the respondents were reluctant to access health care because they did not want to overburden the NHS or feared contracting Covid-19. Concerns were expressed throughout the survey about difficulty in getting through to surgeries on the telephone. Some said they preferred face-to-face contact with surgery staff but many others were satisfied with telephone triage and video consultations and want these to be continued.
The people who replied to the survey were happy with the service they had received from local pharmacies. They liked the introduction of time-slots for prescription collection and deliveries of medications. They mostly felt well informed about pharmacy services. Some mentioned the difficulty of long queues outside pharmacies – especially for the sick and disabled and in bad weather.
Only seven respondents used social services with four people saying the new ways of operating were fair, good, or excellent.
21 people talked of cancelled appointments and 14 people talked of postponed procedures. This has resulted in discomfort, pain and anxiety.
53% of the respondents said they have not needed mental health support. Of the 47% who have needed it, most turned to friends and family for support. Nobody sought support from a mental health practitioner.
People thought those with limited or problematic access to the internet, those living alone, or who were dependent on community, voluntary or charity groups were the most likely to be disadvantaged by the lockdown.
Other reported problems included loss of warden services in sheltered accommodation, anxiety and stress, being unable to see family and friends, being unable to stand and queue to enter premises due to disabilities, lack of exercise opportunities, health issues due to cancelled appointments and post-viral fatigue.