Experiences of cancer appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic
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This report shares the results of Healthwatch Norfolk’s project about people’s experiences of cancer appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norfolk and Waveney. This project was carried out by Healthwatch Norfolk in partnership with Norfolk and Waveney Health and Care Partnership, NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group, and Healthwatch Suffolk.
The project aimed to find out about experiences and views on in-person and virtual (phone, video, and e-mail/e-messaging) appointments. To find out about these experiences two surveys were created and shared. The surveys were open from March to June 2021:
1. An online survey for professionals and staff members who work with people affected by cancer.
2. A survey for patients in Norfolk and Waveney who have had appointments regarding cancer referral, diagnosis or treatment since March 2020. This survey was available online, over the phone, in paper form, and in Easy Read format.
Healthwatch Norfolk received responses from 23 professionals to the staff members survey and heard from 244 people on the public survey. Among other things, the responses to the surveys showed that there was some reluctance from many professionals and patients to use virtual appointments for cancer appointments. Most patients would prefer an in-person than a virtual appointment.