Accessing Long Covid support in Sheffield

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Summary of report content

Healthwatch Sheffield undertook research on Long Covid - the challenges those living with it face in managing their condition and overcoming barriers to healthcare.

The findings come from 21 in depth interviews with people who have Long Covid and their carers, as well as a community grants programme which connected with 440 people in diverse communities to gather their experiences and insights about Long Covid. The research took place between October 2022 and September 2024.

Healthwatch Sheffield particularly focussed on bringing to light the barriers affecting those who are currently under-represented in Long Covid services locally, despite being disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes people from ethnically diverse communities, as well as those with lower socio-economic means.

The report makes a number of key recommendations to commissioners and providers of services for people with Long Covid, aiming to improve services and guide future strategies.

Key findings

The report focuses on different elements of living with Long Covid -

People's experiences of health services: People's journeys through general practice, hospital care, and specific Long Covid services

Self-management: How people use different strategies, voluntary sector support, and online resources to manage long term conditions

The impact of Long Covid: How the condition has affected people's mental health, work and finances, relationships and social life, and their caring responsibilities

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General details

Local Healthwatch
Healthwatch Sheffield
Publication date
Date evidence capture began
Date evidence capture finished
Key themes
Access to services
Accessibility and reasonable adjustments
Administration (records, letters, results)
Caring, kindness, respect and dignity
Consent, choice, user involvement and being listened to
Follow-on treatment and continuity of care
Diagnosis
Integration of services and communication between professionals
Lifestyle and wellbeing; wider determinants of health
Referrals
Staffing - levels and training
Waiting for appointments or treatment; waiting lists for treatment
Written information, guidance and publicity

Methodology and approach

Was the work undertaken in partnership with another organisation?
Yes
Name(s) of the partner organisation(s)
Voluntary Action Sheffield
Primary research method used
Focus group
Interviews
If an Enter and View methodology was applied, was the visit announced or unannounced?
N/A

Details of health and care services included in the report

Details of health and care services included in the report
Counselling/Psychotherapy/ Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)
Emergency department (inc A&E)
General outpatients and hospital-based consultants
General Practice (GP)
Long Covid clinics or treatment
Pain management
Rehabilitation/enablement

Details of people who shared their views

Number of people who shared their views
461
Ethnicity
Arab
Asian / Asian British: Bangladeshi
Asian / Asian British: Indian
Asian / Asian British: Pakistani
Asian / Asian British: Any other Asian / Asian British background
Black / Black British: African
Black / Black British: Caribbean
Black / Black British: Any other Black / Black British background
White: British / English / Northern Irish / Scottish / Welsh
White: Roma
White: Any other White background
Any other ethnic group
Sexual orientation
Not known
Marital and civil partnership status
Not known
Religion or belief
Not known
Pregnancy/maternity
Not known
Types of disabilities
Physical or mobility impairment
Learning disability or difficulties
Long term condition
Types of long term conditions
Other
Does this report feature carers?
Yes
Seldom heard groups
People on low incomes
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