Norfolk patient group says better communication will help tackle health inequality
Research from The Joseph Rowntree Foundation found there's a direct link between poverty and being admitted to A&E
A patient group in Norfolk is telling us better communication between hospitals and patients is needed to tackle health inequality.
It's as research from The Joseph Rowntree Foundation found there's a direct link between poverty and being admitted to A&E.
"People aren't always being informed on what's going on"
John Bultitude is from Healthwatch Norfolk:
"I spent time in an A&E department in a Norfolk hospital not too long ago, and you can see the pressure that people are under. I think there needs to be a fundamental change and it needs to happen at a much greater pace.
"Personalised care is happening in pockets, but I think this needs to be rolled out nationally. I also think that the NHS needs to put more non-clinical staff in place.
"We understand that healthcare is under pressure at the moment, but people aren't always being informed on what's going on in terms of delays and postponements of treatment.
"We hear every year about winter pressures. If we start thinking about it now versus a few months beforehand, it would go a long way."
The research in more detail:
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation-led work shows that there's a direct correlation between deprivation and emergency admissions to hospital, indicating that poverty is worsening health as well as affecting access to services.
The most acute NHS care was found to be “running hot” with health problems made worse by poverty and not being addressed before they become serious.
30% of people living in the most deprived areas have turned to 999, 111, A&E or a walk-in centre because they were unable to access a GP appointment, compared to just 10% of people in the least deprived areas.
Between 2017/18 and 2022/23 the average length of stay in critical care increased 27% for people in the most deprived communities but just 13% for the least deprived.
"Deep poverty is driving pressure into an already overstretched health service"
Paul Kissack, Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said:
“As we approach a general election, any political leader serious about turning the tide on worsening health in our country, and protecting the NHS, needs to get serious about tackling poverty and hardship. Deep poverty is driving pressure into an already overstretched health service. With acute health care running hot, no serious plan for our NHS can be made that doesn’t address poverty.
“And improving the nation’s health goes well beyond the NHS. We live in a country where millions of people – including a million children – face destitution, going without essentials such as food, toothpaste or warm clothes. This scale of hardship risks a mounting catastrophe for the nation’s health.
“For the sake of people’s dignity, their health and to protect their NHS, it is time for political leaders to get serious about tackling hardship – addressing poverty as the essential foundation for improving the nation’s health and wellbeing.”
What's being done to tackle this?
NHS England say they set up an improvement programme to tackle healthcare inequalities in 2021- which focuses on closer collaboration across the board.