This research (ED-WAITS, NIHR154061) investigates whether inequalities exist in waiting times in UK Emergency Departments (EDs) and how these delays impact patient outcomes.
The study uses large-scale NHS data to examine differences in waiting times by deprivation, ethnicity, age, and gender, and explores how organisational factors within EDs influence prioritisation and care delivery. It addresses a critical evidence gap, as inequalities in planned care are well established, but less is known about inequities in urgent and emergency care. Engagement has been integral to the project and has ensured strong alignment with both clinical practice and national policy priorities.
The impact is underpinned by the NIHR-funded project ED-WAITS: Inequalities in waiting times in UK Emergency Departments and their impact on patient outcomes (NIHR Award: NIHR154061). This research provides the first comprehensive national-level analysis of inequalities in emergency department (ED) waiting times in England, examining variation by socioeconomic deprivation, ethnicity, age, gender, and route of attendance using linked administrative NHS datasets.
This project examines the impact of financial and non-financial incentives for General Practitioners (GPs) on the quality of primary care, with a particular focus on pay-for-performance schemes and indicator-based evaluation systems. Conducted in collaboration with the Institut Català de la Salut (ICS) in Spain, the research analyses how incentive structures influence clinical behaviour, service delivery, and patient outcomes, as well as the extent to which existing performance indicators accurately capture quality of care.
The impact is underpinned by a research project examining the role of economic incentives in shaping General Practitioner (GP) behaviour and the quality of primary care. The project is conducted in collaboration with the Institut Català de la Salut (ICS), the main public provider of primary healthcare services in Catalonia, Spain.