The COVID-19 pandemic
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Healthwatch Dudley interviewed 47 people who had been getting help with food or medication deliveries during the lockdown period to find out how volunteers had been supporting people and making a difference.
Volunteers helped older shielding or vulnerable people with food and medication deliveries. It was difficult, especially in the first few weeks after the national lockdown started, for them to get online shopping, where they had access to the internet. Many were unable to get help from neighbours and had no close family living nearby who could help. Loneliness and isolation are a problem for people, especially if they are on their own, who are shielding or vulnerable and confined to their home for a long period of time. There is concern about reduced access to health and care services and the implications for people’s health and how long it would take for services to get back to a more normal state.
This report was compiled for the Dudley Council for Voluntary Service.