Understanding new ways of working during the pandemic

Research for the Future worked with Nicky Timmis (Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement Manager) at Health Innovation Manchester on two pieces of related work around changes to the way people worked and services were provided during and following the COVID-19 pandemic:

• An online focus group was established to understand patients’ experiences of GP appointments and GP services during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicky was looking for people with one or more long-term conditions who had been advised to ‘shield’ by the government.  She was particularly interested to talk with people from communities where there was a greater risk of catching and dying from the virus.  80% of the participants who joined the focus group were recruited via Research for the Future.  Feedback from the group was extremely positive and HinM were able to gather a lot of insight into people’s experiences.
• An online survey was carried out to understand patients’ experiences of using online and digital technologies for appointments and other GP services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research for the Future supported HinM to recruit participants and almost 450 people went on to complete the survey.

A full report of both these projects can be read on the Health Innovation Manchester website.