Quick Dip: The Impact of the UK’s Covid-19 Health Policies on Disabled People
Studies into the Coronavirus Pandemic have revealed the impact felt by patients living with disabilities from policy decisions taken by the UK Government and Health Organisations - and the infringement of fundamental human rights. In a report published by the House of Lords, access to healthcare, education and food were highlighted as crucial services that persons with disabilities were unable to utilise.
Restrictions imposed by the Government had a disproportionate impact on the lives of patients with disabilities. Social care support was restricted significantly in an attempt to slow the transmission of the virus, with voluntary organisations stepping up to provide care. Yet, these services became increasingly overwhelmed in attempts to provide care where UK Health Policy had failed. The NHS, already overwhelmed with an influx of unwell patients, were guided to stop all but urgent care, which particularly impacted community and mental health services. The Health Foundation reported that patients with disabilities were more likely to report disruptions and cancellations to treatment, with 21% of respondents with disabilities stating treatment was cancelled or postponed, compared to only 11% of respondents without disabilities. In some care homes, blanket ‘Do Not Attempt Resuscitation' (DNAR) orders were imposed on specific age groups and conditions, departing from the usual practice of proper discussions with patients and relatives. During the first wave of the pandemic alone, 119 Social Care providers felt they had been subjected to these blanket DNARs, with one GP writing to care homes asking them to put these in place. This impacted their right to receive the care they deserve.
In a study undertaken by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in February 2021, two-thirds of respondents with disabilities reported that the coronavirus pandemic affected their well-being, compared with half of the non-disabled respondents. In a separate study conducted in April 2021, the ONS reported that 40% of the respondents with disabilities said the pandemic had negatively affected their ability to access healthcare services.
Access to food during the pandemic was also restricted, despite supermarkets prioritising ‘clinically extremely vulnerable patients.. Accommodations were made for certain disabilities, whilst others were not catered for. For example, blind people were refused online slots despite the difficulties of navigating shops in person without breaching social distancing measures.
Due to pre-existing vulnerabilities, and consequently making up 59.5% of coronavirus deaths, disabled patients were inadequately protected by health policies put in place by the UK Government during the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic highlighted pre-existing inequalities in the UK that need to be addressed by both the NHS and the government. If patients with disabilities are to receive the care they are entitled to, the Government must do more to ensure policy encompasses their needs.