Coronavirus (COVID-19): highest risk - survey report - July 2021
Results from an online survey conducted by the Scottish Government Shielding Division in July 2021 with people at highest clinical risk from Covid-19.
Impact on face-to-face medical appointments
Many people at highest risk have needed to attend regular medical appointments to manage their health condition(s). In the early stages of the pandemic, many were unable to attend their regular appointments, which could have had a knock on effect on their health and wellbeing. We wanted to understand whether this was still the case, with restrictions relaxed, and whether any further support or guidance was needed to help people get back to the appointments or treatments that they need.
21% of respondents (n4509) had missed a face-to-face medical appointment (excluding vaccination) between May – July 2021. When asked why they had missed medical appointments, the reasons given included:
- appointment was cancelled (37%)
- another reason (31%) – the majority of these responses wanted to clarify that they still had regular appointments, but that these were done over the phone or through video calls rather than face-to-face
- appointment was delayed (25%)
Whether respondents had missed any face-to-face medical appointments, other than vaccination, between May – July 2021
| Yes | 21% |
|---|---|
| No | 79% |
| Response count | 4510 |
Why respondents had missed face-to-face medical appointments between May – July 2021
| My appointment was cancelled | 37% |
|---|---|
| Another reason | 31% |
| My appointment was delayed | 25% |
| I don’t feel safe in my healthcare setting | 13% |
| I don’t like leaving the house | 10% |
| I didn’t feel safe getting there | 10% |
| Response count | 4517 |
For ‘Another reason’ (31%) – the majority of these responses wanted to clarify that they still had regular appointments, but that these were done over the phone or through video calls rather than face-to-face
Contact
Email: shielding@gov.scot
There is a problem
Thanks for your feedback