COVID-19 to change healthcare forever
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In 2020 our healthcare services have faced an insurmountable challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic has been the first of its kind since the inception of the NHS, and we’ve seen unprecedented changes to our day to day lives, as well as the ways that we access healthcare services because of it. At times, our national health services have been close to being overwhelmed, and the coming winter months are bound to see further hardships.
At this point, it’s impossible to know what healthcare will look like when it’s over. But, if we look at changes that we’ve already seen, we can start to think about the future, and what we might be able to expect in the coming years.
Significant changes to emergency healthcare services
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In April 2020, at the peak of the pandemic A&E visits were down 57% on the same month last year. By August, despite healthcare services returning to something approaching normal, visits were still down 19% when compared to August 2019.
Fewer A&E visits can largely be attributed to people staying in more, having fewer incidents relating to alcohol and fewer accidents. There’s also a link between people staying home, and the prevalence of other infectious diseases falling. We’re staying home and practising better personal hygiene to avoid COVID-19, which also means we avoid other contagious diseases.
Self-care becoming more important and more acceptable
Of course, another reason for the drop in A&E visits is that we are taking better care of ourselves. While COVID-19 is moving freely, we’re keen to stay out of the hospital. We’re practising self-care, taking steps to reduce symptoms at home, and only relying on healthcare services in the case of a true emergency. Perhaps this is something that could continue in the future, placing far less unnecessary pressure on the NHS.
Changes to how we care for people with long-term conditions
Before COVID-19 hit in March, 85% of the Burden of Disease in the UK came from long-term and chronic conditions. People with long-term conditions took up the bulk of NHS appointments and used services most frequently and most extensively.
Since April, the care offered to these people has had to change. While the government and NHS have worked to protect people with long-term conditions, the day to day care available has had to change. Long-term treatment plans have been actioned, and video and phone calls have been utilised. But, data suggests that access to healthcare services was 20% lower during the peak pandemic period. People with long-term conditions and vulnerabilities have been unable or unwilling to seek help.
When asked why they had not used healthcare services during the pandemic, 47% said the primary reason was that they didn’t need to. 10% couldn’t get an appointment, and 22% were worried about the virus. It won’t be until the pandemic is over, and those with chronic conditions do return to their usual healthcare provider that we can appreciate the long-term effects this lack of care could have had.
Increased waiting times
In January 2020, before the pandemic hit the UK, one in six people had to wait for longer than the NHS target of 18 weeks for treatment.
While many routine surgeries and treatments have been rescheduled since July, we’re sure to see a vast rise in treatments and operations for those with existing conditions, who may have been waiting for some time. This means that we are likely to see huge rises to waiting lists for operations, routine appointments, and especially mental health services.
Even without factoring in the extra patients waiting thanks to COVID-19 delays to their treatment plan, to meet the 18-week target, NHS activity would have to rise by 12%. By the time you’ve added delayed treatment, this would need a massive restructuring and growth to services. Waiting times are sure to grow, but we may also see some changes to how routine care is offered, and how operations are organised.
Healthcare services embracing future technologies
One massive change to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic is an increased reliance on digital services. Healthcare practices are employing medical marketing tools to communicate. They are contacting patients via text and email, and appointments are being offered via video chat.
While digital services like video call appointments aren’t always ideal, and there’s bound to be a reduction when services are once more able to offer a regular opening. They can, in some cases, save time, reduce the need to visit the surgery, and so limit the spread of disease.
Initially, not all of the changes to healthcare are going to be good. There’s going to be a massive backlog and a lot of changes needed to keep up. But, over time, this restructuring, as well as the growing use of digital services, might see some positive changes, as well as some improvements to healthcare services. Unfortunately, we won’t know for sure until things have settled, and normal service can resume.
