While many of us went into lockdown expecting the pandemic to be over by the summer, a year on, the duration of the economic and social consequences of the pandemic is a cause for concern. Some groups have felt this more than others, with young people and those from minority ethnic communities more likely to have experienced job loss, furloughing or reduced pay during the pandemic. From employment and income, to education and housing, the pandemic has brought all these areas into sharp focus – with millions of school children having to shift to learning online, 1.9 million people spending the last 6 months unemployed or on furlough and nearly 70% of adults in the UK feeling worried about the impact of COVID-19 on their life. Loudly and clearly, the pandemic has shown the role of the wider determinants of health. Not least because while the NHS backlog and growing waiting times are some of the more immediate health consequences of coronavirus, a slower burning fuse has also been lit – the impact of the economy on people’s livelihoods and long-term health. While services were able to be more maintained during the second lockdown, there can be no question that we are yet to fully realise the wider impact of the pandemic on people’s health. People have themselves felt understandably anxious around visiting hospitals and GP clinics in the early days of the pandemic, with 76% of people uncomfortable visiting a hospital and 63% with visiting their GP due to fears of being exposed to coronavirus. From cancer referrals to reproductive health appointments, NHS referrals and waiting times have reached a record high. As the country shut down, so did routine appointments and other health checks. One of the most immediate and apparent lessons has been the value of robust crisis planning to ensure the continuation of health services. But what have our collective experiences over the past 12 months taught us about the impact of COVID-19 on the nation’s health? The effects of COVID-19 have touched every aspect of our way of life. No one could have foreseen the journey ahead of us. This time last year we headed into our first lockdown.
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