How does it feel for me during Covid 19? – Weekly real-time report Week Commencing 14th September
Download (PDF 140.87 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Leeds publish their latest intel on key topics in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic for the week commencing 14 September 2020. During this period, they spoke to 134 people.
Over half said the pandemic is still impacting on their mental wellbeing (most commonly reporting feelings of anxiety, isolation and despondency).
Three-quarters of people reported having always been aware that their GP practice was open, while 58% were kept informed about changes in the way they would attend appointments. Nearly three in five of those who had had a health or care appointment by phone or online said it was a positive experience, while a further 30% had had a mix of good and bad experiences. Some people have felt frustrated at not being able to access medical care during lockdown. They felt concerned that health services will be overloaded once they return to normal. A few people were still too worried about the risk of infection to attend healthcare settings.
Four out of five people in Leeds (over nine in ten for those shielding) felt unsafe from the virus when out and about at least some of the time. This was almost always due to other people, shops, cafes and so on breaking social distancing and hygiene guidelines. Nearly two-thirds of this group of people reported that this was having a negative impact on how fit and healthy they felt.
Ongoing fears of COVID-19 in healthcare settings A few people told us that they were still too worried about the risk of infection to attend healthcare settings.
In conversations with local bereavement groups, they discovered that lockdown exacerbated people’s feelings of grief. Most people were not able to say goodbye to their loved ones.
They also heard that people felt uncertain around guidance on face mask coverings in social settings, for example in cafés. They also heard that test shortages have affected people in the city. They’ve also had 17 enquiries relating to people not being able to find an NHS dentist in Leeds.