Covid-19 survey from the patient information forum

COVID Choices: Do you feel safe to go the GP or hospital? What concerns you?

The Patient Information Forum (PIF) are running a nationwide survey to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges that patients face in making decisions about accessing healthcare, owing to the need to balance the risk of catching COVID 19 with the risk of delaying or missing treatment.

We know from calls to our nurse-led helpline and feedback at online support groups that this issue is something that concerns many patients affected by liver disease. It is extremely important that people do not miss crucial healthcare appointments because they are worried about the risk of COVID 19.

The PIF survey is asking anyone who is concerned about their healthcare during COVID to fill in a survey about COVID 19 information and how people are using it to make decisions about their health.

The survey responses will help the NHS and health charities ensure that patients receive the information they need to make informed choices about health and wellbeing.

If you would like to contribute to the survey please click here to have your say

surveymonkey.co.uk/r/covidc...

[Mama41]

As a cancer patient I’m more concerned about the lack of care being given to cancer patients at the moment.

It seems as if the NHS have forgotten us and are only concerned with Covid.

[Hidden in reply to Mama41]

You have a very valid point. CRUK have a useful page on cancer and covid and discuss the 'cancer hubs' that are bseing set up to ensure cancer treatments continue. Here is the link:

cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

[Mama41 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I spoke to CRUK last month and they said they couldn’t advise when things would start getting back to normal.

All screening for breast,cervical and prostate cancers were stopped.

At my hospital screening scans for current cancer patients are currently running 3 months behind.

The amount of people diagnosed with cancer in April was 5000, it’s usually 30000..so that’s 25000 people who are still waiting to be diagnosed or who have received their diagnosis later than they should have.

Obviously with cancer the sooner you’re diagnosed the better.

I have filled in the questionnaire though 😊

[Hidden in reply to Mama41]

With your permission, I will feed back all your very important comments to our communications team, thank you also for filling in the survey.

Warm wishes.

[Mama41 in reply to Hidden]

Yes that’s fine 😊

[Hidden in reply to Mama41]

Thank you.

[bantam12]

Personally I feel safer going to hospital appts and tests now than in normal times because there are fewer patients there and those that are there don't have 2, 3 or more family with them !!

I've been a lot recently and will be going in for urgent gallbladder surgery in a few weeks, there is the possibility of cancer so I've been fast tracked and it's worked really well, long may it last !!

[Hidden in reply to bantam12]

Thank you for your feedback. Good luck with the surgery, keep us posted.

Best wishes.

[bantam12 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you 😊

[CarpeDiem11]

One of the things that concerns me is the continued use of telephone consultations. I was asked to send a photo to my GP, (over a skin concern that I have)but I'm pretty sure it would be impossible to see via an emailed photo. In addition to this, I have been called without notice by different Consultants (waking me up, so initially groggy when answering), which means that I don't have any prepared questions and nor do I have my results to hand.

I have felt safe visiting the hospital and GP surgery so far, but feel very concerned that too much is being done over the phone. At least if they are going to phone, they should give you an idea of the day and 1 or 2 hour time slot (I realise nothing is exact here). Lastly, I have been given a wide variety of advice, ranging from no pain relief will help to " yes, take a combo of codeine and paracetamol"; also if the pain persists for a few days seek help to "don't hesitate to seek help within 3 hours". I am used to keeping track of all my health issues, but making decisions of widely conflicting advice is alarming to say the least.