Jenni Burt1, Richard Hooper, Lynda Jessopp. 1. Immediate Access Project, Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, 5 Lambeth Walk, London SE11 6SP. jenni.burt@kcl.ac.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the utilization of NHS Direct by disadvantaged groups, in spite of the service aiming to be 'accessible to all'. This study investigates the relationship between use of NHS Direct and deprivation in one predominantly disadvantaged area. METHODS: Ward-level call rates to NHS Direct South East London over a 6 month period were calculated using postcode data. Jarman and Townsend scores were used as a proxy of deprivation in each ward. We performed negative binomial regression to investigate the relationship between deprivation score and rate of calls to NHS Direct. RESULTS: There was a significant, non-linear (quadratic) effect of deprivation score on call rates; call rates were lower in both the most affluent and most deprived wards. CONCLUSION: Calls to NHS Direct rise with increasing deprivation until, at extreme levels of deprivation, they subsequently decline. This challenges assumptions that NHS Direct is not utilized in deprived areas.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the utilization of NHS Direct by disadvantaged groups, in spite of the service aiming to be 'accessible to all'. This study investigates the relationship between use of NHS Direct and deprivation in one predominantly disadvantaged area. METHODS: Ward-level call rates to NHS Direct South East London over a 6 month period were calculated using postcode data. Jarman and Townsend scores were used as a proxy of deprivation in each ward. We performed negative binomial regression to investigate the relationship between deprivation score and rate of calls to NHS Direct. RESULTS: There was a significant, non-linear (quadratic) effect of deprivation score on call rates; call rates were lower in both the most affluent and most deprived wards. CONCLUSION: Calls to NHS Direct rise with increasing deprivation until, at extreme levels of deprivation, they subsequently decline. This challenges assumptions that NHS Direct is not utilized in deprived areas.
Authors: Natalie L Adams; Tanith C Rose; Alex J Elliot; Gillian Smith; Roger Morbey; Paul Loveridge; James Lewis; Gareth Studdard; Mara Violato; Sarah J O'Brien; Margaret Whitehead; David C Taylor-Robinson; Jeremy I Hawker; Benjamin Barr Journal: J Infect Date: 2018-09-26 Impact factor: 6.072
Authors: Julie Peconi; Steven Macey; Sarah E Rodgers; Ian T Russell; Helen Snooks; Alan Watkins Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-10-11 Impact factor: 2.692