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Showing results for tags 'Health inequalities'.
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Content ArticleECRI is an independent non-profit that produces an annual list of Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns, and its list for 2023 includes a new emphasis on system safety. In this interview for the Betsy Lehman Center, two leaders at ECRI talk about the list and the current state of patient safety. Shannon Davila, ECRI’s Director of Total Systems Safety and Marcus Schabacker, President and CEO, discuss the need to address gaps in performance with a "total systems approach," the ongoing issue of health inequity and the patient safety risks associated with recent changes in state laws and guidance around obstetrics and maternity.
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News Article
Adenomyosis: NHS failing women, health ambassador says
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The NHS in England is "failing women", the government's women's health ambassador has said. Prof Dame Lesley Regan, appointed to support the Women's Health Strategy implementation, was speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Naga Munchetty. Last month, Munchetty, 48, revealed she had been diagnosed with the womb condition adenomyosis, after waiting years in severe pain. Dame Lesley said she wanted women to be able to self-refer to specialists. Women and girls should not have to seek "permission [to] go and have your crippling menstrual pain sorted out", she said. Read full story Source: BBC News, 6 June 2023 -
Content ArticleThe Women's Health Strategy for England was developed and published in 2022 in response to the growing recognition of the unique health needs and challenges faced by women in England (and the U.K.) and was brought forward to address longstanding gaps in women's healthcare and to promote better health outcomes for women across the country. This Forbes article looks at why women’s health should be included in every government’s agenda. The author speaks to Professor Dame Lesley Regan, Women's Health Ambassador for England about the progress of the strategy and Dr. Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists about the need to ensure underrepresented groups are included in the strategy.
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Content ArticleThis article summarises the findings of research by Healthwatch into the impact of the cost of living crisis on people's decisions about accessing health and care. The research, which surveyed 2000 adults in England, was conducted four times between October 2022 and March 2023. It suggests that people are increasingly avoiding vital health and care services due to the fear of extra costs. Examples include avoiding: going to a dentist because of the cost of checks ups or treatment booking an NHS appointment because they couldn’t afford the associated costs, such as accessing the Internet or the cost of a phone call buying over the counter medication they normally rely on taking up one or more NHS prescriptions because of the cost. Healthwatch sets out a series of recommendations, including ensuring that the support available to help with healthcare costs is communicated to those that need it.
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Content ArticleEngland is the only country in the UK to still charge patients for prescriptions, with charges having been abolished in Wales and Scotland in 2007 and 2011, respectively. However, for patients in England, the cost is rising; in March 2023, the government announced an inflationary increase of 3.21%, bringing the prescription charge up to £9.65. And the number of people eligible to pay could increase, following government proposals to raise the upper age exemption for free prescriptions from 60 to 65 years. This article looks at the impact of prescription charges on health inequalities, particularly focusing on the impact of the cost of living crisis. The reporter speaks to pharmacists who regularly see patients making difficult choices about which prescriptions to collect, as well as highlighting research that suggests many patients with long term conditions are forgoing their medications as they cannot afford them.
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News Article
Florida doctors can soon deny patient care based on personal, religious beliefs
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A controversial new Florida bill will allow physicians to opt out of performing certain services because of "sincerely held" religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. The bill, part of a "medical freedom" legislative package signed last week, permits healthcare providers to make conscience-based objections to providing medical care and protects them from getting sued or losing their licenses. Critics say the new law could exacerbate health disparities and lead to discrimination against certain groups of patients, including LGBTQ+ individuals and women seeking reproductive healthcare. Psychologists could refuse to treat someone for gender dysphoria, for example. Doctors could refuse to prescribe birth control, administer childhood vaccines, or accept patients with state insurance. Kenneth W. Goodman, professor and director of the University of Miami's Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy, told Medscape Medical News the legislation could upset a longstanding precedent. "To deny care based on unspecified and unarticulated 'moral, ethical, or religious reasons' opens the door to neglect, abandonment, and suspicion," Goodman said. "It undermines two millennia of a cornerstone of medical ethics: take care of your patients — no matter who they are." Read full story Source: Medscape, 18 May 2023 -
News Article
Health alert system aims to cut heatwave deaths
Patient-Safety-Learning posted a news article in News
A new alert system will warn the public when high temperatures could damage their health this summer in England. Run by the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office, it is aimed at reducing illness and deaths among the most vulnerable as climate change makes heatwaves more frequent. The Heat Health Alert system will operate year-round, but the core alerting season will run from 1 June to 30 September. The system will offer regional information and advice to the public and send guidance direct to NHS England, the government and healthcare professionals. Individuals can sign up to receive alerts directly and people can specify which region they would like to receive alerts for. Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UK Health Security Agency, said, "It is important we are able to quantify the likely impacts of these heatwaves before they arrive to prevent illness and reduce the number of deaths." Read full story Source: BBC News, 1 June 2023 -
Content ArticleThis BMJ article by journalist Andrew Kersley reports on a meeting of 157 medical experts and academics held at the Royal Society of Medicine on poverty and the cost-of-living crisis, which took place in May 2023. One academic at the event warned that the long term effect of ongoing economic inequality on life expectancy was worse than six unmitigated covid pandemics. The three solutions proposed at the meeting that received the most support were: a national strategy to tackle poverty the nationwide delivery of “more affordable, quality, secure social and rental housing” urgently increasing the rate of Universal Credit as well as removing the restrictions related to total benefits and multiple children.
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Content Article
Health Inequality Data Repository (WHO)
Patient_Safety_Learning posted an article in Health inequalities
Launched in April 2023 by WHO, the Health Inequality Data Repository contains datasets of disaggregated data covering diverse topics and dimensions of inequality, from a variety of publicly available data sources. It aims to make disaggregated data more accessible and navigable to diverse global audiences. -
Content ArticleWhat a subway killing reveals about New York City’s revolving-door approach to mental illness and homelessness.
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News ArticleOne of the first studies to examine the full lifespan of people living with Down syndrome (DS) has provided evidence in support of health guidelines specifically for people with the condition. Life expectancy for people with DS had increased dramatically over the last 80 years or so, yet people with the condition still died at an earlier age than people in the general population or those with other intellectual disabilities, said the authors of a new study, published in The Lancet. This meant that there was an "opportunity to improve health outcomes for this minority", they said. There continued to be disparities in surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment of common health conditions in people with intellectual disabilities, including those with DS, highlighted the authors, with ongoing premature mortality and excess morbidity identified in these groups. In April 2022, the Down Syndrome Act was introduced in England, which stipulated that the Government must provide information to the NHS and local councils on how to provide the most appropriate care and support for people with DS. Read full story Source: Medscape, 26 May 2023
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Content ArticleIn this blog Paul Whiteing, Chief Executive of AvMA, reflects on the recent report by the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee on Black maternal health. Paul questions why these racial health disparities, that have long been reported on, have been allowed to continue over many decades and highlights the need for more challenging conversations as to wider root causes.
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EventuntilCommunities are playing an increasingly important role in improving health and meeting the wellbeing needs of people locally, highlighted in part by their role in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Integrated care systems (ICSs) need to recognise the role communities can play in improving and sustaining good health, and as part of this they need to seek greater involvement with local voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) groups at the place and neighbourhood level, where the link local communities is at its strongest. This conference will provide an opportunity to discuss the impact of community-led and person-centred approaches to improving health and wellbeing, and to explore what more can be done to build on community interventions, assets and solutions that developed as a response to the pandemic. It will also consider the challenges of demonstrating value and of working with communities to assess need and provide services. You will hear from community groups who have worked with others – including their ICS, local health system or local authority – to develop a collaborative approach to tackling health inequalities. Register
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News ArticleHealthcare leaders are rolling out new NHS training to help speed up dementia diagnoses among Black and Asian people following criticism about a lack of support for patients from minoritised communities, The Independent has revealed. An awareness campaign is being launched in England to help those from ethnic minority communities receive a prompt diagnosis and get the support they need at the earliest opportunity. The announcement follows a critical report which found that thousands of south Asian people with dementia are being failed by “outdated health services designed for white British patients”. Dr Bola Owolabi, director of the Healthcare Inequalities Improvement programme at NHS England, said: “The pandemic put a greater spotlight on longstanding health inequalities experienced by different groups across the country. “While there are many factors involved, the NHS is playing its part in narrowing the gap and ensuring equitable access to services through taking targeted action where needed to improve outcomes." Read full story Source: The Independent, 21 May 2023
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Content ArticleThis report by The King's Fund is part of new research project that explores how NHS providers and integrated care systems (ICSs) are approaching inclusive recovery. It highlights that in 2022, people in the most deprived areas were twice as likely to be waiting more than a year for elective care compared to people in the least deprived areas. The report explores three big questions health and care leaders should be asking themselves and their teams about inequalities in their elective backlog:How are we measuring inequalities and whyDo we know why inequalities existHow will we know if things are improving?
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Content ArticleRecently, there has been a concerning increase in the number of deaths of pregnant women, especially from Black, Asian and deprived backgrounds. In addition, there have been several investigations into safety issues in maternity services, such as the Ockenden, East Kent, and Shrewsbury and Telford report. This National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Collection highlights evidence in priority areas, identified in the East Kent report, to support high-quality care and avoid safety issues in maternity services.
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News Article
Male GPs in England less likely to refer patients for IVF, report finds
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Male GPs are less likely to refer eligible patients for IVF, research by a fertility charity suggests, raising concerns about access to NHS-funded treatment. The Progress Educational Trust’s (PET) report highlights “utter confusion” and a lack of knowledge among GPs about eligibility criteria for NHS-funded treatment, which it says is exacerbating the so-called IVF postcode lottery. GPs typically make the initial referral to fertility clinics, meaning that they play a crucial role in access. “For NHS treatment, GPs are the main initial gatekeeper. If you’re not getting pregnant, that’s who you go to for advice and support,” said Sarah Norcross, the director of PET. “It struck me that, when people have a known cause of infertility, male GPs still weren’t passing them on.” The report is based on a survey of 200 GPs and commissioners across England, carried out by an independent research company, which investigated knowledge of national fertility guidelines and criteria they use for referral decisions. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 19 May 2023 -
News ArticleHealthcare providers caring for pregnant patients in the months after the US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v Wade have been unable to provide standard medical care in states where abortion is effectively outlawed, leading to delays and worsening and dangerous health outcomes for patients, according to an expansive new report. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling last year, individual reports from patients and providers have shed some light on the wide range of harm facing pregnant women in states where access to abortion care is restricted or outright banned. But a first-of-its-kind report from the University of California San Francisco captures examples from across the country, documenting 50 cases in more than a dozen states that enacted abortion bans within the last 10 months, painting a “stark picture of how the fall of Roe is impacting healthcare in states that restrict abortion,” according to the report’s author Dr Daniel Grossman. “Banning abortion and tying providers’ hands impacts every aspect of care and will do so for years to come,” he said in a statement accompanying the report. “Pregnant people deserve better than regressive policies that put their health and lives at risk.” Read full story Source: The Independent, 16 May 2023
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Content ArticleA new report presents the preliminary findings of the Care Post-Roe Study, and shows how US healthcare providers have been unable to provide the standard of care in states with abortion bans since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade ten months ago, leading to harm and negative health outcomes for patients. The report shows that healthcare providers have seen increased morbidity, exacerbated pregnancy complications, an inability to provide time-sensitive care, and increased delays in obtaining care for patients in states with abortion bans. This has impacted both patients and providers and has deepened the existing inequities in the health care system for people of colour.
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Content ArticleInstitutional racism within the United Kingdom's (UK) Higher Education (HE) sector, particularly nurse and midwifery education, has lacked empirical research, critical scrutiny, and serious discussion. This paper focuses on the racialised experiences of nurses and midwives during their education in UK universities, including their practice placements. It explores the emotional, physical, and psychological impacts of these experiences. The study concludes that the endemic culture of racism in nurse and midwifery education is a fundamental factor that must be recognised and called out. The study argues that universities and health care trusts need to be accountable for preparing all students to challenge racism and provide equitable learning opportunities that cover the objectives to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements to avoid significant experiences of exclusion and intimidation.
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News ArticleFactors like deprivation should be considered in prioritising waiting lists, NHS England’s inequalities director has said, but in a ‘very sophisticated, thoughtful way’ alongside clinical need and waiting times. NHSE said in summer 2020 the service would “restore services inclusively”, and some systems and trusts have developed tools they say could allow them to consider factors such as deprivation, race, employment, and lifestyle risk factors, such as smoking. But the issue has been controversial. Research for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Trust, which has developed a new prioritisation system, found many members of the public are opposed to taking these factors into account. NHSE standard contract guidance for 2023-24, seemingly cautioning against such moves, said: “[The Department of Health and Social Care] asked us to make clear that providers are ‘recommended to prioritise waiting lists according to clinical need and then in chronological order from the longest waiting patient.’” Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 18 May 2023
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News ArticleMore than 26,000 adults with severe mental illness die prematurely each year from preventable physical illnesses, analysis by the Royal College of Psychiatrists suggests. New data from the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities shows 120,273 adults in England with severe mental illness, including psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia, died before the age of 75 between 2018 and 2020. Of these, the College estimates 80,182 deaths (two in three) were potentially preventable, which is an average of 26,727 people each year. Preventable deaths include deaths from diseases like cancer and heart disease which could have been prevented with earlier detection and treatment or lifestyle changes. While adults with severe mental illness are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviours like smoking and drinking alcohol excessively, they are also less likely to access screening and treatment for a range of reasons including stigma associated with having a mental illness. While cancer is the leading cause of premature death among those with a severe mental illness, it also significantly increases the risk of dying before the age of 75 across a range of physical health conditions. Adults with severe mental illness are on average: 6.6 times more likely to die prematurely from respiratory disease 6.5 times more likely to die prematurely from liver disease 4.1 times more likely to die prematurely from cardiovascular disease 2.3 times more likely to die prematurely from cancer. Read full story Source: Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17 May 2023
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News ArticleBlind people are being put “at risk” when the NHS provides them with “inaccessible” information about their health, a charity has warned. People with sight loss have missed appointments, cancer screenings or been unable to use home test kits because of a lack of clear instructions in an accessible format, according to the sight loss charity RNIB. It warned that denying people access to their information can also “cause embarrassment and loss of dignity”. Linda Hansen, from Bradford, who is severely sight-impaired, said that she needed to get her daughter to read her the results of a medical exam which was sent to her in print format. Ms Hansen, 62, said: “I can get my bank statement or a gas bill in accessible formats, but yet I still receive health information that I can’t read. What could be more personal than your health status?” A new RNIB campaign – My Info My Way – has been launched calling for all blind and partially sighted people to be given accessible information. The charity said that a failure to provide information in an accessible format is putting blind and partially sighted people “at risk”. Read full story Source: The Independent, 16 May 2023
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News Article
Babies are dying because of NHS failings, poverty and inequality, charities warn
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Hundreds of babies are dying unnecessarily because overstretched maternity services are delivering substandard care and struggling to overcome entrenched poverty and racial inequalities, a report has warned. The report by baby loss charities Sands and Tommy’s says the government’s aim to halve the number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in England by 2025 is stalling, while there is no target in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Stillbirths are creeping up in England after falling in the past decade. Babies dying before and during delivery rose to just over four in every 1,000 births in 2021. Similarly, long-falling rates of neonatal deaths, where newborns die within the first four weeks of birth, are also rising. There were 1.4 deaths of newborn babies for every 1,000 births in 2021, compared with 1.3 in 2020. Robert Wilson, head of the charities’ joint policy unit, said the government and NHS need to make fundamental changes. “The UK is not making enough progress to reduce rates of pregnancy loss and baby death, and there are worrying signs that these rates are now heading in the wrong direction,” he said. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 14 May 2023 -
Content ArticleIn 2022 the charities Sands and Tommy’s came together to form a Joint Policy Unit. Together they are focussed on achieving policy change that will save more babies’ lives during pregnancy and the neonatal period and on tackling inequalities in loss, so that everyone can benefit from the best possible outcomes. This first report from the Unit brings together a range of evidence to identify the key changes needed to save more babies’ lives and reduce inequalities in pregnancy and baby loss. None of the individual data it contains is new, but it gives decision makers a clear view of where we are now, and where action is required to make progress.
