Worst-off find it harder than well-off to access NHS care, survey finds
Exclusive: findings raise concerns over ‘two-tier service’ with poorer people also feeling less heard by medics
Poorer people find it much harder to access NHS care than the well-off and have a worse experience when they do get it, research by the health service’s consumer watchdog has found.
Those on the lowest incomes have much more difficulty getting a GP appointment, dental care or help with mental health problems, according to a survey by Healthwatch England.
They are also more likely to feel they are not listened to by a health professional and not involved in key decisions about their care compared with those who are financially comfortable.
The links between poverty and ill-health are well known, but the Healthwatch findings show that the worse-off also face the disadvantage what the watchdog called barriers to obtaining healthcare when they need it.
The findings have prompted fears that the NHS is too often a “two-tier service” with access closely related to wealth, and calls for it to do more to make services more accessible to everyone.
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If necessary, the post will be closed to replies. Which I think would be a shame because the underlying issues are so very important.
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This is no surprise. I think this has been happening for decades. If we don’t invest in our Free at point of use NHS then inequality will always exist.
Nothing new here. We hear this in alsorts of different forms. One thing I have found out time and time again, is you have to be persistent. You have to do follow up yourself. Frankly you have to ‘plan’ your own treatment, when they (surely) are the ones who should be doing that. The only time the NHS contact you is when they want you to come in for a test and that is done by AI. It’s rare to get a follow up discussion of results; even when there is something that should be discussed.
Most of us have had to find this out the hard way. I think if you are poorer, you are likely to feel more downtrodden and less able to advocate for yourself; especially with hypothyroidism, where absolutely everything is a trial.
Everywhere there is selective deafness to patients.
I think if you are poorer, you are likely to feel more downtrodden and less able to advocate for yourself; especially with hypothyroidism, where absolutely everything is a trial.
Definitely. The trials and tribulations of simply existing when you are facing chronic difficulties lead to worsening of trauma and the only defence left is sometimes to just give in to save yourself further trauma.
I did catch a glimpse of it and I must admit I just rolled my eyes. Another piece of research confirming what is already known. Such a waste of money.
Health inequalities are rooted in poverty, with often the least well off also being Black, Brown, Women, and people with severe mental health and learning disabilities.
This is not to say White persons are better off. Simply that when one breaks down the demographics of the entire UK population , this is also what is found but remains under reported.
I'm assuming poorer areas have more difficulties attracting and retaining GP's, as well as more ill health and more densely populated catchment areas. Hence more difficulties in access.
I know during Covid how much disparity was revealed between the well off, who could WFH and those in low paid essential services who had to go in. Risking infection and reinfection. Who also, due to underlying co morbidities often bought about by poverty, had greater chances of death or serious complications.
The old saying goes choose your parents carefully, preferably wealthy ones 😒
If one is less well off one is likely to be in lower paid jobs that have less flexibility and tolerance to phoning GP's and hospitals to access health services or follow up sub standard care. Thus the issues go a lot deeper in society than this report suggests.
I think as well you are more likely to be taken seriously by the medical profession if you are articulate, middle class and well dressed. Historically women and people from ethnic minorities have been treated appallingly by doctors, and we know that those groups are more likely to be disadvantaged financially as well.
I've always resented being asked what my occupation is and have often been tempted to lie and say Astrophysicist just to see the look on their face.
Of course this all starts as far back as when you are in the womb, your life chances really are very much determined by who your parents are and how much money they have and its all downhill from there.
Its really sad that many young children are essentially "written off" before they've even started school. Of course there are people who've done very well in spite of their background, but they are very much the exception I think.
Hello all, may I add my ten cents worth. Yes I know this from not being able to afford private testing to present to doctors and endos. This makes you feel less informed when fighting your corner. Because you cannot afford private testing you are made to feel almost irrelevant. Also, another important factor is mental health. It frustrates me, having had depression and anxiety for decades, that any, and all symptoms are because of that. It is as if, because you have a mental health issue, you are imagining everything and cannot think logically.
Also, most people only visit the doctor when they feel ill. The doctor may not be aware of the before and after person in front of them, only seeing you in your ill state, which is normal to them, because that is the only time they see you. You don't go to the doctor if you don't have to.
I'm glad I got that out of my system, although not entirely related to topic. Soz
Unfortunately it doesn’t work for what it was set up for 😟 I believe NYE Bevan started the service for ‘poor’ people to access health care as they didn’t have the money to pay for it 😟
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