What care and support did Birmingham citizens need during the Covid-19 lockdown?
Our new report ‘What care and support did Birmingham citizens need during the Covid-19 lockdown?’ examines people’s experiences of health and social care support in Birmingham during Spring and early Summer 2020. Based on feedback from over 500 Birmingham residents, we found some issues of concern, particularly around support for vulnerable citizens. These include:
- Difficulties obtaining medication and supplies
- Concerns over hospital discharge
- Lack of mental health support
- Inadequate information about cancelled appointments and ongoing treatment
The report also contains examples of where services worked well, alongside details of Healthwatch Birmingham’s own impact during the lockdown, when we helped people who contacted us for urgent information about emergency support.
‘The first Covid-19 lockdown was a testing time for Birmingham, and the city’s health and social care sector rose admirably to the challenge of caring for citizens during unprecedented circumstances. Despite the amazing work of our health and care workforce, our new report based on the experiences of over 500 Birmingham residents collected during lockdown shows where gaps in support emerged, affecting the most vulnerable in society. As infections rise and with new lockdown restrictions being imposed across the country, it is essential that the lessons learned during the first wave of the pandemic are not forgotten. In our report we celebrate what worked well and highlight areas for improvement with the aim of enabling Birmingham’s health and social care services to provide everyone with the care and support they need.’ – Andy Cave, CEO, Healthwatch Birmingham