Help health and social care services recover from COVID-19 #BecauseWeAllCare

While NHS and social care services are doing everything that they can to support you and your loved ones, they need our help to know how they can improve.

Take our survey here

People in North Yorkshire are urged to share their experiences of care by joining us and the Care Quality Commission in our new campaign #BecauseWeAllCare.

Healthwatch and the CQC have joined forces with other health and care partners to launch the campaign calling on all people who access services to help shape future health and social care.

Two thirds (67%) of people in England say they are more likely to act to improve services since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Our new campaign aims to help services identify and, more importantly, address issues people are experiencing with their care. You can get involved with #BecauseWeAllCare by telling us your views about how health and social care support can be improved.

According to our research, 54% of people in Yorkshire and Humber said they would be more willing since COVID-19 to support NHS and social care services by actively providing feedback on their care. Overall, the polling also suggests that 32% of people in Yorkshire and Humber are now more likely to donate or raise money for a relevant health cause.

Some 35% of people in Yorkshire and Humber reported to have avoided services due to COVID-19 – below the national average of 71%. A further 61% reported noticeable changes to the standard of care resulting from the pandemic. However, the results also show that since the outbreak, 36% of people in Yorkshire and Humber are particularly more grateful for GP services.

How do people feel about services since COVID-19?

The research conducted following the start of the COVID-19 crisis has revealed a fascinating snapshot of how people in Yorkshire and Humber view feedback on care:

• 74% of people surveyed said that feedback is an important way to improve services, yet despite greater public willingness to contribute, some barriers do remain.
• While 42% of people are more likely to provide positive feedback on care, in comparison to 61% of people in the capital city, yet 19% of the local population also now consider themselves even less likely to provide negative feedback on care.
• 36% of people in the region said they would be reluctant to provide negative feedback in case it increases pressure on services or staff.

Sir Robert Francis QC, Chair of Healthwatch England said: “These findings are good news. As the UK looks to the future after COVID-19, it’s never been more important for people to share their experiences of care.

“Services won’t bounce back overnight. There’ll be problems to tackle but also opportunities to make care better.

“You can help doctors, nurses and care workers find ways to improve support by sharing your experience.”

Kate Terroni, CQC’s chief inspector of adult social care, said: “People working in health and social care have been going to extraordinary lengths to deliver good, safe care during this global crisis. They have never had a more crucial – or a more challenging – role to play.

“This research clearly shows the public’s appreciation for the care and support they and their loved ones have received and it’s inspiring that people are now looking for ways to channel this into practical action.

NHS staff are doing everything they can to support people through this pandemic, but services can’t improve unless we tell them how.

Have you had an experience of an online GP appointment, changes into support as a carer, or any other type of care or support from a health or social care service during COVID-19? No matter how big or how small, we want to hear how you think services in North Yorkshire can improve in our short, confidential survey.