This report examines the experiences of care home staff in Wigan Borough as they access health and adult social care services for residents post-pandemic. The project aimed to understand the challenges and successes in service delivery following changes made during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the shift to remote assessments.
The findings revealed mixed experiences across care homes, with some services adapting better than others. A key area of concern was the Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) service, which continued to rely on virtual assessments, causing significant challenges for care home staff. Issues were also noted with other services like podiatry, mental health support, and hospital communication, where delays and difficulties accessing care impacted the well-being of residents.
Staff expressed frustration over inconsistencies in service quality and the additional burden placed on care homes to manage these gaps. Recommendations include improving communication between care homes and hospitals, returning to pre-pandemic service models where possible, and fostering more collaboration between health and social care providers to better support residents.
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