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This paper reports and discusses the weekly Clapping for Carers – described as 'front‐line heroes' that took place across the United Kingdom during the first national lockdown of the coronavirus pandemic. Data are drawn from a UK‐wide online survey of health and social care workers, completed in May to July 2020. The survey received 3,425 responses of which 2,541 were analysed; free‐text comments were categorised. One question asked specifically: 'Do you think the "Clap for Carers" was a helpful response from the public?', and 815 comments were provided. Responses were extracted from these 815 free‐text comments and categorised as follows: unequivocally Yes, predominantly Yes, mixed feelings, predominantly No and unequivocally No. Most comments revealed mixed feelings about the helpfulness of Clapping with only a minority being entirely supportive. The free‐text comments offer some explanations for these views with many feeling that Clapping distracted from the severity of the pandemic and the inadequate resources. The free‐text comments reveal workforce concerns that the support demonstrated for the frontline workforce in Clapping might be transitory and that it may not translate into workforce improvements and political commitment to further funding of health and social care. Some saw the value of Clapping as illustrative of community cohesion. There was little mention of Clapping for heroes, and where it was the notion of heroism was rejected. The demonstration of public support in Clapping for Carers may have directly benefitted the public, but only indirectly the workforce. Future recruitment data may help discern if public support has translated into a desire to join the workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic has greatly affected the delivery of cancer care. Due to social restrictions and reductions in health service contact, it is expected that the burdens experienced by informal carers have risen. This study provides an analysis of cancer carer's experiences and needs as a consequence of the pandemic. An online mixed method design was used. The survey included open‐ended responses to explore carer's experiences and measures of health status (EQ‐5D‐5L), Quality of Life (WHOQoL‐BREF) and impact of COVID‐19. Open‐ended responses were analysed thematically according to Miles and Huberman techniques and quantitative data were analysed descriptively. One hundred and ninety‐six cancer carers participated in the online survey. Mixed method analysis demonstrated that carers were experiencing major difficulties. Of these n = 142/72.4% experienced challenges related to anxiety and depression; 35.2% rated these problems as slight with 25% rating these as moderate and 11.2% as severe. Qualitative analysis identified significant and sustained negative impacts of the pandemic on psychological health, social isolation, finance and access to health services with carers requiring urgent information and support. Carer's challenges have deepened throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic. There is an urgent need to develop innovative ways to provide support for carers to provide palliative and supportive care at home now and during recovery from the pandemic. Due to the need for infection control meaningful development and integration of urgent digital technology might be the most feasible solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]