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Showing results for tags 'Health Disparities'.
Found 811 results
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Content ArticleThe USA President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology have released their report to the US President, Joe Biden, on patient safety. The report contains recommendations aimed at dramatically improving patient safety in Amercia.
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Content ArticleFrom endometriosis to heart attacks, this Guardian article look into the causes and symptoms, and explore gender disparities in quality of care
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Content ArticlePatients have better outcomes with female surgeons, a study from Wallis et al. has found. In a cohort study of 1 million patients, those treated by a female surgeon were less likely to experience death, hospital readmission, or major medical complication at 90 days or 1 year after surgery. This association was seen across nearly all subgroups defined by patient, surgeon, hospital, and procedure characteristics.
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Content ArticleThe early use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) improves outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This study in the journal Heart investigated AED access across Great Britain according to socioeconomic deprivation. The authors found that in England and Scotland, there are differences in distances to the nearest 24/7 accessible AED between the most and least deprived communities. They concluded that equitable access to ‘out-of-hours’ accessible AEDs may improve outcomes for people with OHCA.
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Content ArticlePeople living in deprived areas experience the most significant health inequalities in terms of access, experience and outcomes. There are large reductions in life expectancy for those living in the most deprived areas compared to people living in the least deprived areas. NHS England commissioned a research project into access, experience and outcomes related to health services in socio-economically deprived communities. This communications and engagement toolkit is an output of the research. The toolkit is designed to be used by communications and engagement professionals and others across the NHS with a responsibility for communicating to and engaging with people in the most deprived areas.
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Content ArticleThere is a well-established case for involving communities and people with lived experience in health and care policy, service design and delivery. NHS England guidance on working in partnership with communities highlights the financial benefits and improvements to quality and health outcomes that working with local communities brings. But could this involvement go further? In this article, Loreen Chikwira, Researcher at The King's Fund looks at the arguments for the use of intersectional approaches in understanding people’s lived experience of care in tackling ethnic health inequalities. These intersectional approaches help health and care providers shift their focus from people’s behaviours to also identifying and addressing ways of working that create and reinforce inequalities and poor experiences of care.
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Content ArticleNew research from Healthwatch shows that people are currently facing multiple cancellations or postponements of care which are having a significant impact on their lives and symptoms, while further increasing health inequalities. Healthwatch cmmissioned a survey of 1084 people who have seen their NHS care either cancelled or postponed this year to understand the extent of disruption to care amid rising waiting lists, workforce issues, and industrial action, and other pressures on the NHS.
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Content ArticleThis toolkit summarises good practice for Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and primary care commissioners and providers regarding the provision of primary care services for people seeking asylum who are living in initial and contingency accommodation. It aims to ensure equality in access to services and improved long-term health outcomes for residents in Home Office accommodation, minimising health inequalities and encouraging collaborative working with accommodation providers and other local stakeholders.
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Content ArticleThe NHS Long Term Workforce Plan 2023 is crucial to the long term sustainability of the health service. The National Centre for Rural Health and Care is concerned that the plan has not been 'rural proofed' and makes very few references to rural issues. They are preparing a response and are looking for views about the plan through this survey. The closing date for responses is 4 August 2023.
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Content ArticleThere are an estimated 363,000 adults experiencing multiple disadvantage in England—they may be experiencing a combination of homelessness, substance misuse, mental health issues, domestic abuse and contact with the criminal justice system. The Changing Futures programme works in partnership in local areas and across government to test innovative approaches and drive lasting change across the whole system, in order to provide better outcomes for adults experiencing multiple disadvantage. This prospectus provides information for partnerships interested in submitting an expressions of interest to be part of the Changing Futures programme.
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Content ArticleThe New Zealand Ministry of Health has released its first Women’s Health Strategy, which sets the direction for improving the health and wellbeing of women over the next 10 years. It outlines long-term priorities which will guide health system progress towards equity and healthy futures for women. The vision of the strategy is pae ora (healthy futures) for women. All women will: live longer in good health have improved wellbeing and quality of life be part of healthy, and resilient whānau and communities, within healthy environments that sustain their health and wellbeing. A key priority is equitable health outcomes for wāhine Māori, a commitment under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi). The strategy also aims to help achieve equity of health outcomes between men and women, and between all groups of women.
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Content ArticleWidening health inequities are leading to decreasing trust in institutions, reinforcing social fractures and leaving excluded communities further behind. Narrowing the health gap made worse by the pandemic is not only a matter of social justice, but essential to build trust, social cohesion and economic resilience. This report by the World Health Organization (WHO) explores the interrelationships between health, the economy and social capital. It examines how governments can work to build social cohesion and invest in people’s health to improve resilience and promote an equitable recovery. It outlines five solutions to reach those who are affected the most by health inequalities: those who live precarious, marginalised lives.
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Content ArticleTests that indicate the health of newborns, moments after birth, are limited and not fit-for-purpose for Black, Asian and ethnic minority babies, and need immediate revision according to the NHS Race and Health Observatory.
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Content ArticleToo many women are dying from disadvantage in one of the poorest parts of England, according to ground breaking new research which serves as an urgent wake-up call for levelling up efforts. The report by Agenda Alliance and Changing Lives, Dismantling disadvantage has found that in 2021 a woman in the North East of England was 1.7 times more likely to die early as a result of suicide, addiction, or murder by a partner or family member than in the rest of England and Wales. Today’s new research was conducted to better understand the lives and needs of disadvantaged women in the North East, including Newcastle, coastal areas and Gateshead and Sunderland; some of the poorest regions in the country. Working with women with lived experience at every stage, the study involved 18 in-depth interviews, 47 survey responses; focus groups; data analysis and multiple meetings with affected women, practitioners and policy makers.
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Content Article
General Medical Council Ethical hub
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in General Medical Council (GMC)
Here you can find a collection of resources exploring how to apply GMC guidance in practice, focusing on areas doctors often ask about, or have said they find challenging. These pages will help you address important ethical issues and incorporate good practice into your work. -
Content ArticleThe Professional Standards Authority (PSA) commissioned this research to help inform a consistent and appropriate approach by the regulators and registers towards the various types of discrimination in health and care. The research was undertaken to help PSA understand better the views of the public and service users on the following key questions: What constitutes discriminatory behaviour in the context of health and care? What impact discriminatory behaviour may have on both public safety and confidence? Through looking at these two areas, the research also drew out views from participants on how health and care professional regulators should respond to different types of discriminatory behaviour.
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Content ArticleEvidence suggests that maternal mortality has been increasing in the US. Comprehensive estimates do not exist. Long-term trends in maternal mortality ratios (MMRs) for all states by racial and ethnic groups were estimated. The objective of this study was to quantify trends in MMRs (maternal deaths per 100 000 live births) by state for five mutually exclusive racial and ethnic groups using a bayesian extension of the generalised linear model network. The study found that while maternal mortality remains unacceptably high among all racial and ethnic groups in the US, American Indian and Alaska Native and Black individuals are at increased risk, particularly in several states where these inequities had not been previously highlighted. Median state MMRs for the American Indian and Alaska Native and Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander populations continue to increase, even after the adoption of a pregnancy checkbox on death certificates. Median state MMR for the Black population remains the highest in the US. Comprehensive mortality surveillance for all states via vital registration identifies states and racial and ethnic groups with the greatest potential to improve maternal mortality. Maternal mortality persists as a source of worsening disparities in many US states and prevention efforts during this study period appear to have had a limited impact in addressing this health crisis.
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Content Article
Welsh Health Equity Solutions Platform
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Health inequalities
Wales has a long history and tradition of upholding universal policies, welfare, sustainability and rights-based approaches to population wellbeing. However, the trends in reducing the health gap are mixed, the rate of improvement is slower than anticipated, and new groups are emerging with disproportionately higher risk of poor health and premature death and disease. The Welsh Health Equity Solutions Platform has been designed as a resource to find data and solutions relating to health equity. It includes an interactive data dashboard, policy and healthy equity frameworks and international case studies. It aims to support and accelerate healthy prosperous lives for all in Wales. -
Content ArticleOn the 18 April 2023 the Women and Equalities Select Committee published a report on Black maternal health. This analysed Government and NHS activities to date in this area and made a number of recommendations for further action needed to end disparities in maternal deaths. This paper sets out the UK Government’s response to the recommendations in this report.
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Content ArticleWhat health condition affects some 200 million people around the world, yet remains woefully misunderstood, underfunded, and barely addressed in medical-school curricula? Endometriosis is a disease that the World Health Organization estimates affects 1 in 10 women and girls globally. And yet the National Institute of Health allocates a whopping 0.038% of its research resources to the disorder. Endometriosis, which involves tissue similar to uterine tissue growing elsewhere in the body, has myriad symptoms, including GI distress, migraines, discomfort during sex and abdominal pain that can range from debilitating to excruciating. Countless women miss days of school and work, lose their jobs, and suffer depression as a result of the illness. Experts say endometriosis could be the underlying cause of 50% of infertility cases. L Despite efforts to raise awareness, it persists as an underground topic, and many doctors are ill equipped to help those afflicted or don’t even believe their patients. “It’s a perfect storm of undervaluing women and women’s health, inequities in health care, menstrual taboo, gender bias, racial bias, and financial barriers to healthcare,” said Shannon Cohn, the director of Below the Belt: The Last Health Taboo, a searing one-hour documentary set to premiere on PBS.
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Content ArticleThis year marks the NHS's 75th anniversary, and is an important moment to look back at where the service has come from, consider where it stands today and to look forward to how it needs to change to meet future needs. This report from the NHS Assembly draws on the feedback of thousands of people who have contributed to a rapid process of engagement with patients, staff and partners. It aims to help the NHS, nationally and locally, plan how to respond to long term opportunities and challenges. It sets out what is most valuable about the NHS, what most needs to change, and what is needed for the NHS to continue fulfilling its fundamental mission in a new context.
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Content ArticleThis improvement plan sets out targeted actions to address the prejudice and discrimination – direct and indirect – that exists through behaviour, policies, practices and cultures against certain groups and individuals across the NHS workforce. It has been co-produced through engagement with staff networks and senior leaders.
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Content Article
In 2022, an illustration of a Black foetus in the womb by Nigerian medical illustrator and medical student Chidiebere Ibe, went viral. The image sparked an important conversation around representation in medical imagery and the impact this has on health outcomes for patients who are Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC). Research showed that only 5% of medical images show dark skin and only 8% of medical illustrators identified as BIPOC. A collaboration between Chidiebere Ibe, Deloitte and Johnson & Johnson, Illustrate Change aims to build the world's largest library of BIPOC medical illustrations for use in medical education and training. So far, the library contains images relevant to the following specialties: Dermatology Eye disease General health Haematology Maternal health Oncology Orthopaedics -
Content ArticleIn December 2022, Public Policy Projects brought together oncology experts and key stakeholders for a roundtable to discuss how effective partnership working in healthcare environments can reduce health inequalities in breast cancer outcomes. The objective of the roundtable was to create a series of actionable insights and recommendations for health providers to create a more resilient health and care system and, ultimately, improve breast cancer outcomes in the UK. This document is a summary of the key outcomes, insights and recommendations that were generated from the roundtable. It is not an exhaustive report of facilitating and enabling partnerships to tackle health inequalities, but rather a particular view from a group of key sector stakeholders.
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Content ArticleDespite their widespread use, the impact of commissioners’ policies for body mass index (BMI) for access to elective surgery is not clear. Policy use varies by locality, and there are concerns that these policies may worsen health inequalities. This study in BMC Medicine aimed to assess the impact of policies for BMI on access to hip replacement surgery in England. The authors used National Joint Registry data for 480,364 patients who had primary hip replacement surgery in England between January 2009 and December 2019. They found that rates of surgery fell after localities introduced policies restricting access to surgery based on BMI, whereas rates rose in localities with no policy. Localities with BMI policies have higher proportions of independently funded surgery and more affluent patients receiving surgery, indicating increasing health inequalities, and policies enforcing extra waiting time before surgery were associated with worsening mean pre-operative symptom scores and rising obesity. The authors recommend that BMI policies involving extra waiting time or mandatory BMI thresholds are no longer used to reduce access to hip replacement surgery.
