In this Policy Brief, Prof Catia Nicodemo highlights how socioeconomic deprivation strongly shapes referral routes to emergency departments in the England, and that the referral route can more strongly influence emergency department outcomes than the socioeconomic deprivation itself.
To address both this inequality and the cost of higher ambulance use in areas of socioeconomic deprivation, Prof Nicodemo recommends:
- Expand and target GP access in deprived areas
- Strengthen NHS 111 uptake and trust in disadvantaged communities
- Reduce avoidable ambulance reliance through upstream care navigation
- Improve follow-up and discharge planning for self referrals
Read the full policy brief here.