What areas of service delivery have changed during the pandemic?

What areas will you keep after the crisis?

How are you ensuring your clients are able to access psychological services?

What is your experience of the various platforms used to deliver virtual sessions?

As well as working therapeutically with clients, are you providing support to staff working within your department or trust?

Normalising our responses in a crisis is important when so much is unknown and uncertain. We can only control how we individually react, think and behave in any given moment.

Heightened anxiety was a common and understandable emotion reported by many clients at the beginning and easing of shielding and reported by staff who were seeing their patients and colleagues directly affected by Covid 19.  Clients are now reporting an increase in depressive symptoms, following 4-6 months of shielding, social isolation, and latterly work related and financial distress. Many clients continue to express a reluctance to attend hospital appointments, favouring to attend their local GP practises for bloods; and others are fearful of hospital admissions even when medical attention is necessary.  

Psychological practitioners worked flexibly and creatively to deliver services to both their existing and new client referrals and their colleagues. Predominantly working from home, creating neutral confidential workspaces; delivering services using phone or virtual methods.

Do you have experience of receiving or providing effective support during COVID-19?

Add your voice to this learning community!

Be it a personal reflection, an innovation you are proud of or something you have learnt, get in touch by completing this short and easy form, or email your story in your own words to kquip@renalregistry.nhs.uk.