We asked people who had not used any services or additional support during the first lockdown to explain why they had not, the most common response was that they did not need additional support. Those that did need it most commonly asked for help with mental health.
Some people were confident about accessing support while other said they weren’t, with concerns including feeling isolated or being unable to talk to someone face-to-face.
Professionals working in health and social care told us new ways of working could mean being able to see more people but acknowledged that was not right for everyone.
Care homes felt they had seen better infection control and a greater bond among staff but it could also mean declining mental health, less visiting from relatives, and difficulty getting healthcare and health visits.
