SEDED-S: Exploring how socioeconomic deprivation impacts patients’ experiences in A&E

DC0095

Background

Like the rest of the NHS, A&Es ostensibly operate with the principle that healthcare should be provided according to clinical need, and that a patient’s socioeconomic background should not influence the healthcare they receive or when they receive it. In reality though, the systems, processes and people that constitute A&E are not isolated from the systems of discrimination and inequalities that exist in wider society.

What are we trying to find out?

In this study we are interested in finding out whether people from more socioeconomically deprived backgrounds end up waiting longer in A&E, than patients who live in more affluent areas?

We will look at this question in different years and different regions. If we find a relationship between socioeconomic deprivation and waiting times, we will look to see if anything can explain that relationship, for example how unwell a patient is.

How will we do it?

We will use data collected in A&Es along with a dataset called the ‘Index of Multiple Deprivation’, and conduct variety of statistical tests. These will include descriptive statistics and regression modelling. This will help us to see if there is a relationship between socioeconomic deprivation and waiting times, and what factors might explain that relationship.

What happens next?

This research will allow us to understand whether if and how emergency departments might contribute to or mitigate health inequalities. Beyond academic outputs, I anticipate that the knowledge that this study produces will feed into health policy and enable the NHS to direct healthcare resources to reduce health inequalities. Addressing health inequalities will improve the health and healthcare experiences of patients from the most socioeconomically deprived backgrounds, and will reduce the demand on the NHS overall.

9 September 2025

In progress

This study will contribute to the body of knowledge about whether socioeconomic inequalities are associated with waiting times in emergency departments, and if so, in what years and regions the association is stronger and weaker. It will also tell us the extent to which any association is explained by differences in the presenting complaints of patients.

It is anticipated that the findings of this study will be presented to healthcare policy makers, who will be able to target interventions to reduce inequalities. Through contributing to the body of knowledge this study will contribute to reducing the burden on the urgent and emergency care system. Changes in top level policy may take several years to implement and see results from. It is possible that the study may contribute to knowledge that will support local policy changes, such as approaches to triage and patient flow pathways, which may bring about improvements within a shorter timescale.

It is also intended that findings will be presented to emergency department staff, who may be able to respond to the findings through their individual practice. Through contributing to the body of knowledge and disseminating my study to a variety of audiences, it is hoped that the study will positively impact policy and practice within the NHS, and contribute to reducing health inequalities.

No

Yes

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