Socioeconomic inequality and access to emergency care: understanding the pathways to the emergency department in the UK
Inequalities in how patients access emergency care, particularly reduced GP and NHS 111 referrals among more deprived groups, appear to underpin disparities in ED outcomes. Referral source captures important clinical and system-level factors that influence patient experience and resource use. Interventions to improve equitable access to structured referral pathways, particularly in more deprived areas, may enhance both the efficiency and fairness of emergency care delivery. Further research using national data is needed to assess broader policy implications and economic costs associated with differential access.
Authors
- Adrian Boyle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9009-5423)
- Catherine J. Pope (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8935-6702)
- Raphael Wittenberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3096-2721)
- Catia Nicodemo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5490-9576)
- Joan Eliel Madia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8398-8859)
- James Ray (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4189-7075)
- Alex Novak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5880-8235)
- Stavros Petrou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3121-6050)
- Bella Wheeler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8721-5669)
Institutions
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Nuffield Health (GB)
- Science Oxford (GB)
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust (GB)
- Addenbrooke's Hospital (GB)
- Brunel University of London (GB)
- London School of Economics and Political Science (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMJ Open
- Published
- 2025-12-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-108770
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Emergency and Acute Care Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.51