Covid 19: how are we coping? Part II - hospital appointments

Healthwatch Lincolnshire undertook a survey of Lincolnshire people who were either in the middle of treatment, awaiting treatment, or had been referred for diagnostics in hospital during the coronavirus pandemic experienced that service. The survey ran from 25th June to 12th July 2020 and they heard from 162 people.

Patients were not attending appointments, where hospitals had previously cancelled and not rearranged appointments or they had received no information regarding a new referral. Patients were frustrated at the lack of information about the status of their health and care treatment (where were they on the waiting list).  Patients were also receiving the message that it was not appropriate for non-COVID patients to attend hospital due to the risk of infection and burden on NHS resources.

Those patients that had attended hospital had mixed views on their experiences.  Those that had poor experiences felt scared, had observed inconsistent practical application with regard to PPE being utilised both by staff and patients and those patients receiving care, treatment and or difficult news under impossible or isolated situations who couldn’t have loved ones visit them in hospital.