The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to dramatic changes in healthcare and nursing services. The epidemic has highlighted the need to reassess norms and deeply held assumptions about the way we deliver health care.
At the peak of the pandemic (May 2020), many countries reallocated resources to more basic services. This is a basic measure needed to reduce mortality in crisis situations.
In 81 studies involving more than 17.9 million services in 20 countries, the researchers found consistent evidence of significant reductions in health care services compared with previous studies.
Changes in nursing services
While some services have been reduced, others have also increased, such as telemedicine. In the UK, major changes to primary and community care were implemented in March 2020. In the UK healthcare sector, the NHS has introduced digital triage and expanded remote consultation.
At the same time, the NHS has seen a significant increase in demand for intensive care and reduced or delayed demand for non-COVID-19-related services.
Another new development is the creation of crisis services for mental health.
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