COVID-19 Pandemic: A Literature Review of Health & Social Care Issues

This literature review examines the impact of COVID-19 on health and social care practices, focusing on the issue of unequal service distribution. It highlights how the pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities, leading to increased demand for healthcare services and straining resources. The review analyzes research findings that reveal disparities in access to care, particularly for marginalized groups, and discusses strategies for managing these challenges, such as improved monitoring, resource allocation, and collaboration. The study concludes that COVID-19 has significantly impacted health and social care systems, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to address inequalities and improve service delivery. Desklib offers a platform for students to access this and other solved assignments to aid in their studies.

literature review on any issues
which are currently facing the
health or social care practice

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
Aim- To analyse the COVID-19 associated issue, which is impacting the health and social care
practices...........................................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................1
Research findings...................................................................................................................2
Discussion and analysis of data..............................................................................................3
Implementation of findings in current practice .....................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Health and social care practices are the important part of the health system which work
together to manage the people good health and well-bing. Principles of the health and social care
is to provide the effective care and attention (Schweiberger & Ray (2020)). Along with the
management of privacy, dignity, respect, equal opportunity etc. this health and social care system
working for the care and welling of the peoples with equal services. But there are the various
environmental factors which create the situation of unequal care and services. Such as COVID-
19 is the environmental factor which is creating the situation of higher health care services needs
and lack of the resources to meet those needs. There is the needs of research in context to this
situation for supporting and improving the public health and social care services. In the health
and social care practices the leading trends are more strategic and agile supply chains,
personalisation of care, work force diversity and safety along with the implementation of
artificial intelligence. In this essay research on the COVID-19 associated issue, such as in
unequal health care services distribution problem facing by the health and social care practices is
done, along with the identification of health services management measures.
Aim- To analyse the COVID-19 associated issue, which is impacting the health
and social care practices.
Objectives-
 To evaluate the unequal health care services distribution problem, facing by the health
and social care services due to the COVID-19.
 To analyse the new developing measures for the management of health care services
supply issues.
MAIN BODY
Sources of data and evidence
In context to the selected research topic the appropriate source of data and evidence is can
be the secondary information. Such as the pre review research literatures, record's of the health
and social care services provided within the year and report of the mortality due to the lack of
1

health care services (Radhakrishnan & Park (2021)). At the starting 100 pre-recorded literatures
was selected and as the information source, then after that some selective relevant source of the
data are selected on the basis of their relationship and incorporation of the particular recharge
topic. Such as the 4 selective literature data sources are selected for the evidence based research.
Relevance of information
relevancy of the information means its connectivity with the research topic, such as if the
data sources are incorporating the related content or topic of the research subject then this can be
consider as the relevant information. The information which can apply to meet the information
need and to solve the problem. In this research essay information is relevant because these are
meeting the inclusion criteria according to which topic should involve health social care practices
information, COVID-19 issue and its impact. The another specific inclusion on the basis of
presence of the information related to the equality in health care services due to COVID.
Exclusion criteria is involving age limit, specific health condition. As this essay is on health and
social care practices and issue on it, this is not for the specific health condition (Alston & Foote,
W. (2021)).
Research findings
Clare Bambra (2020) according to this literature there is the history of health and social
care inequities due to the pandemic, as it has been estimated that social, economical, ethical and
geographical inequalities are caused by the COVID-19 at current situation and in chronic
diseases and the social determinants of health. On the basis of this report information it is the
backdrop of social and economic inequalities in existing non-communicable diseases and the
inequalities in the social determinants of health. Access to the health care services are now lower in
the universal health care system. This inequalities are higher in the disadvantage and marginalised
group who are not having the health care insurance. Health and social care practices are facing the
issues like lack of the resources or higher demand of the health care services due to which they can
not meet the demand of each and every individuals (Thorpe & Howlett, A. (2021)). The increasing
demand of the health and social care services like health faculties and the aboriginal group
inappropriate condition. The main region behind the inequalities are poor infrastructure and
partiality between the care of higher class peoples as they pay higher for the health services and store
services unnecessary, which reduce the chances of lower class peoples to get services. Private health
2

care organization directly get the health care resources and sell it at higher price. Government and
social health care workers do not get the access to adequate resources. Due to which they face
difficulty in distribution of the equal services to public.
Efrat Shadmi (2020) On the basis of this literature Australia pandemic response had a
strong focus on the access to the comprehensive primary care through telehealth. This is one of
the most important health care part of the COVID response to protect the health care workforces
along with the patient. But within the lockdown some of the equity issues are magnified. Such as
poor access to the device and high speed internet, lack of the privacy, overcrowding and
homelessness, has prevented the peoples to get equal benefits of this new for of the health and
social care services. This form of the inequities effected the Aboriginal population in the form of
development of higher chronic disease and increasing, likelihood of overcrowding (Hong &
Ding, M. (2018). The major issue of the services distribution in social care practices faced, is
related to the inequalities in the quality housing. The increasing issues of unemployment due to
the COVID-19 has impacted the health and social care services distribution issues. Because this
causes the higher demand of free, housing and government health care services which is not
possible to met at the immediate situation.
OECD (2020) On the basis of this research report COVID-19 developed inequity issues
in health and social care practices is can be sort out or manage by the help of some key
strategies. Such as implementation of the better monitoring and gap addressing preparedness.
This is involving the tracking of the financing for pandemic preparedness, such bas joint external
evaluation is can be use by the health and social care partners to monitor and manage pandemic
preparedness. Use and share the technical expertise, promote the effective practices of financing
and response to the crises. Use precautionary measures and Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown
Options to manage the equal distribution of the resources and health care services (DURGUN,
(2021))).
Discussion and analysis of data
From the above research findings it has been identified that COVID-19 is the biggest environmental
factor which is impacting the health and social care practices in different terms. One of the most adverse
impact of the COVID-19 is development of the health services distribution issues and inequalities (Hussain
& Khan (2018)).
3

Negative outcomes
Inequalities in health care repurposes distribution within the health social care system, is
casing the inequality issues in the health and social care services distribution. Higher demand of
the services due to the increasing infection cases, stress and lack of the beds in health care
system, is also the region of inequalities in services distribution. Due to the inappropriate
interwork and housing social workers can not research the peoples with telhealth (Savy &
Hodgkin (2021)).
positive outcomes
Inequalities is can be reduce with the implementation of effective financing system,
sharing of the technical expertise, reduction of the resources waste and Monitoring of access
across different socio-economic areas.
Implementation of findings in current practice
Identified potential areas for change in current practice is need of the improvement in
health care system effective collaboration, improvement of the supply forecasting through
effective financing.
Identified issues that require further research and evaluation is prevention of the
inadequate use of the resources, such as black marketing of the essential resources and unwanted
storage of the resources in private sector (Howe & Spies‐Butcher (2021)).
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been concluded that in health and social care system the
constant issue which is impacting the public care practices is related to the COVID as this is the
leading factor of the environment which is causing the adverse impact on the social and
economical basis. The current issues of the health social care practices is problem in the equal
services distribution due to the inappropriate situation of the environment by the effects of
COVID. Such as this is impacting the health care system by increasing the demand of infection
acre services along with the chronic care services, impacting the financial condition and causing
the higher needs of housing services due to which health and social care professionals are facing
problem in services distribution.
4

5

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Schweiberger, K., Hoberman, A., Iagnemma, J., Schoemer, P., Squire, J., Taormina, J., ... & Ray,
K. N. (2020). Practice-level variation in telemedicine use in a pediatric primary care
network during the COVID-19 pandemic: retrospective analysis and survey study.
Journal of medical internet research, 22(12), e24345.
Radhakrishnan, K., Allen, C., DeMain, A. S., & Park, L. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on Heart
Failure Self-Care: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.
Alston, M., Irons, K., Adamson, C., Boddy, J., Fronek, P., Briggs, L., ... & Foote, W. (2021).
Australian and New Zealand social workers adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic. The
British Journal of Social Work.
Thorpe, C., & Howlett, A. (2021). Visualising the pandemic pivot: using evidence-based practice
to capture and communicate an academic library’s COVID-19 response. Journal of the
Australian Library and Information Association, 1-9.
DURGUN, Ö. (2021). A Study in the Children’s Health-Oriented Health Policies After COVID-
19 Pandemic Period in Turkey. Duzce Medical Journal, 23(Special Issue), 94-105.
Savy, P., & Hodgkin, S. (2021). Australian rural community aged care services: Precarity and
capacity. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 80(2), 324-339.
Howe, A. L., & Spies‐Butcher, B. (2021). Integrating the retirement income system and aged
care funding in Australia: An Aged Care Levy as a social insurance option. Australian
Journal of Social Issues.
Hussain, M., Ajmal, M. M., Gunasekaran, A., & Khan, M. (2018). Exploration of social
sustainability in healthcare supply chain. Journal of Cleaner Production, 203, 977-989.
Hong, J., Zhang, Y., & Ding, M. (2018). Sustainable supply chain management practices, supply
chain dynamic capabilities, and enterprise performance. Journal of cleaner production,
172, 3508-3519.
Online
Health equity and COVID-19: global perspectives (2020) available through [Online]
<https://equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12939-020-01218-z>
The COVID-19 pandemic and health inequalities (2020) available through [Online]
<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7298201/>
COVID-19 Exacerbating Inequality, Marginalization Faced by Indigenous Peoples, Speakers
Underline, as Permanent Forum Continues Session (2021) available through [Online]
<https://reliefweb.int/report/world/covid-19-exacerbating-inequality-marginalization-faced-
indigenous-peoples-speakers>
Strengthening health systems during a pandemic: The role of development finance (2020)
available through [Online] <https://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/strengthening-
health-systems-during-a-pandemic-the-role-of-development-finance-f762bf1c/>
6

7

8