December 2020 and January 2021- what have we been hearing?

Healthwatch Sheffield’s December 2020 and January 2021 briefing highlighted feedback about Covid-19 vaccinations, GP services, mental health support, adult social care, dentistry, maternity care and access to services for Deaf people. Feedback about the Covid-19 vaccination programme was largely positive, with most people describing vaccination centres as efficient, well organised and easy to navigate. However, some individuals reported difficulties accessing appointments, particularly where travel was difficult or where carers experienced challenges being recognised within priority vaccination groups. 

Feedback about GP services was generally positive, with many people praising doctors and practice staff for continuing to provide support throughout the pandemic. The most common concern was difficulty contacting practices, including long waits on telephone lines and problems getting through to arrange appointments or discuss medication. Issues relating to communication were also raised across a range of services, with some people reporting a lack of updates about complaints, referrals or ongoing treatment plans. 

The briefing highlighted a number of concerns affecting vulnerable groups. People who were Deaf or hard of hearing described difficulties communicating with healthcare providers, including reliance on inaccessible telephone appointments and challenges caused by face coverings where alternative communication methods were not offered. A person with a learning disability expressed concerns that changes to annual health checks during the pandemic made it harder to participate fully. Feedback about adult social care included concerns about people not feeling involved in decisions about care and support, while some mental health service users reported difficulties navigating different levels of support and frustration at repeatedly having to tell their story to different professionals. 

Access to NHS dentistry remained a significant issue. People reported inconsistent experiences between practices, confusion about registration requirements and concerns that they were not always being appropriately triaged. Several people said they were being offered private treatment quickly while facing waits of up to two years for NHS care. Concerns were also raised about communication regarding maternity visiting arrangements, with some expectant parents worried about restrictions on partner attendance. Overall, communication, accessibility and timely access to care emerged as key themes across services during the reporting period.