Healthwatch Cambridgeshire study published

Healthwatch Cambridgeshire has today published the findings of its three-month survey of residents’ health care during COVID.

1,131 people took part between 28 May and 31 August.

A summary of the findings can be found at https://www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk/report/2020-10-22/report-shines-light-covid-health-and-care-struggles

Key points are

• Older people, those with disabilities or long-term health conditions, carers and those not online were hit hardest by the pandemic and subsequent service changes.
• Three in ten people avoided getting help for a health problem. 
• Out of those that did get help, three out of four rated it highly.
• One in three people told us that the pandemic had a high or significant impact on their mental health and wellbeing.
• The shutdown of dental services worsened existing problems around access to high street NHS dental care.
• Although some people have taken to online hospital or GP appointments, they don’t work for everyone. Many people don’t have the internet and those with sensory impairments find remote consultations hard to access.

Healthwatch Cambridgeshire has also published a number of briefings arising out of its survey