Poverty makes it harder for people to access timely GP care, ultimately putting more pressure on services, an analysis from the King’s Fund has found.
A report commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that 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.
More than one in five people currently live in poverty in the UK and tackling this situation should be as much of a Government priority as bringing down NHS waiting lists, report authors argued.
Hospital data also shows a direct correlation between higher levels of deprivation and higher emergency admissions, the Kings Fund said.
There is also a correlation between deprivation and length of stay in critical care beds, the report found.
For some health conditions, prevalence is lower in the most deprived areas yet deaths are higher including dementia and atrial fibrillation, the report authors noted.
Data from January 2024 shows that 49% of people in the most deprived areas report that the cost-of-living squeeze is impacting their physical health compared with 27% of people in the least deprived areas.
Overall people living in poverty find it harder to live a healthy life, live with greater illness, face more barriers to accessing timely treatment, and die earlier than the rest of the population, the think tank concluded.
While the NHS can, and needs to, do more to make timely care accessible to deprived communities, wider investment and prioritisation to tackle poverty is needed from government and society, the authors said.
This could address poverty, improve health, and reduce pressures and financial implications on the NHS.
Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of The King’s Fund, said: ‘One of the founding principles of the NHS is that it is free at the point of need, yet our analysis shows the cruel irony that many people living in poverty find it harder than others to access the timely care that could help them better manage their health conditions and prevent future illness.
‘The number of people living in deep poverty in the UK has risen, and recent life expectancy figures – a fundamental measure of a nation’s health –show a depressingly stark gap between the most and least deprived areas of the UK.
‘While the NHS can be a force in addressing poverty, as we head towards a general election, widening health inequalities and deepening deprivation must be tackled head on by government and policy-makers.’
Saoirse Mallorie, senior analyst and lead author at The King’s Fund, added: ‘Our analysis highlights that not only do people living in poverty have shorter lives, they also spend a higher proportion of their lives with health problems.
‘To improve the nation’s health and use NHS resources in the best way, tackling poverty must be as much of a priority as bringing down waiting lists.’
RCGP chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne said: ‘General practice is the bedrock of the NHS with GPs and our teams making the vast majority of patient contacts – so when our service is under pressure, it has ramifications across the health service.
‘ This is what we’re seeing in this report, and our patients living in some of the country’s most deprived areas, who are often our most vulnerable, are feeling the impact most.’
Professor Hawthorne said that while ‘hardworking GPs and our teams are trying doing our best to provide access to safe, timely and appropriate care for patients’, the ‘unfortunate reality’ is there are not ‘enough GPs to meet current demand’ which is ‘hitting poorer communities the hardest’.
‘GPs witness daily the devastating health effects that poverty and deprivation are having on patients,’ Professor Hawthorne said.
‘The link between poverty and worsening physical and mental health has long been established – and we’ve only seen the situation worsen over the past decade.’
Seven out of 10 GPs saw a rise in the last year in the number of patients presenting with problems linked to the increased cost of living, according to an RCGP survey released last Autumn.
‘Much more must be done to tackle health inequalities in the UK – and as the first port of call for most of society’s most vulnerable patients, general practice has an integral part to play in any strategy,’ Professor Hawthorne said.
‘At present, we’re unable to keep up with increasing demand and we desperately need to see more funding to ensure we can provide the care our patients need.’
READERS' COMMENTS [2]
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British taxes are the highest since World War 2, yet somehow Mr Sanuk and the Conservative Government have underfunded the NHS: and so many many public services, too numerous to list here, are underfunded too. Where is the money: it’s all been squandered. More than 1 in 5 people living in poverty: it is a disgrace. Are any councils building any council houses for people to rent for a fair price? Pensioners with one of the lowest rates of a pension in Europe; and if you have a second pension, like retired doctors, GPs and many more people, the personal allowance threshold does not keep pace with inflation, so you have money stolen from you by Mr Sanuk and smug Jeremy Hunt. If you are working, you are caught in the tax-trap too. Also, the Con-servatives even made Postmasters poorer and a lot sicker: about the money the P O was stealing from innocent post-masters and mistresses who had their lives shattered by the faulty Horizon, Fujitsu IT system. Have they even been paid back properly for these serious, iniquitous problems caused by the P O and Tories? What did Tories know and are they under some sort of investigation over the scandal, or not? Won’t the Conservatives, including Sanuk, be history soon? If he goes, don’t be blinded by the likes of Mordaunt if she seeks selection: she will still be a Tory, unfortunately; you could say the slogan, ‘you’ll be more daunted: if you vote for Mordaunt’. You could vote Labour instead.
ChatGPT can explain why there is an economic argument for not letting public services run into the ground and pursue a policy of inequalities (but it relies on the assumption that people in government are in post to run the country and do right by the people, rather than maximise own income.) Maybe AI could run the country:
The economic argument for a fairer society encompasses several key points, highlighting the benefits that fairness and equality can bring to an economy:
Increased Productivity: Fairness in society can lead to greater inclusivity and participation in the economy. When individuals feel that they have a fair chance to succeed regardless of their background or circumstances, they are more likely to contribute positively to economic productivity. This can result in higher output levels and overall economic growth.
Reduced Income Inequality: A fairer society typically entails policies and practices aimed at reducing income inequality. High levels of income inequality can lead to social unrest, decreased social mobility, and reduced economic growth potential. By narrowing the income gap, resources are distributed more evenly, leading to a stronger and more stable economy.
Enhanced Human Capital: Fairness in access to education, healthcare, and other essential services ensures that all individuals have the opportunity to develop their skills and abilities to their fullest potential. This results in a more skilled and productive workforce, which can drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and overall economic competitiveness.
Increased Consumer Demand: When wealth is more evenly distributed across society, a larger proportion of the population has the purchasing power to buy goods and services. This increased consumer demand can stimulate economic growth by incentivizing businesses to expand production and hire more workers to meet the rising demand.
Social Cohesion and Stability: Fairness fosters social cohesion and trust within society, which are essential for economic stability and prosperity. In societies where there is a perception of fairness and justice, individuals are more likely to cooperate, invest, and innovate, leading to a more dynamic and resilient economy.
Long-Term Sustainability: Fairness is often associated with sustainable development practices that prioritize the needs of both current and future generations. By ensuring that resources are distributed equitably and environmental costs are internalized, a fairer society can promote long-term economic sustainability and resilience to global challenges such as climate change and resource depletion.
Overall, the economic argument for a fairer society is grounded in the idea that greater fairness and equality contribute to stronger, more inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, benefiting both individuals and society as a whole.