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Western Telegraph
6 days ago
- Health
- Western Telegraph
NHS waiting lists: Working age people a growing proportion of those needing help
Data tables published for the first time by NHS England also show people in the most deprived parts of the country are more likely to wait more than a year to start hospital treatment than those in the least deprived. The figures, analysed by the PA news agency, show 56.1% of those on the list at the end of June this year were of working age (defined as age 19 to 64), up from 55.8% a year ago and 55.0% in June 2022. At the same time, the proportion of people on the waiting list under the age of 19 has fallen, standing at 10.8% in June this year, down from 11.2% a year earlier and 11.9% in June 2022. The proportion who are over 65 has remained broadly unchanged at around 33.1%. People of working age are also more likely to have to wait more than a year to start treatment (3.0% of patients in this age group at the end of June) than those over 65 (2.5%). However, the proportion is the same as those under 19 (also 3.0%). Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Only by being upfront and shining a light on inequalities can we begin to tackle the problem Health Secretary Wes Streeting Meanwhile, people in the most deprived parts of England also face long waits for treatment when compared with those in the wealthiest areas. And for data where sex is recorded, women make up a higher percentage of the waiting list (57%) compared with men (43%). Women are also more likely to be waiting more than 18 and 52 weeks than men. On deprivation, some 3.1% of patients living in the most deprived areas had been waiting more than 12 months to begin treatment at the end of June, compared with 2.7% in the least deprived. The gap is even wider in some regions, with the figures for the Midlands ranging from 3.0% in the most deprived parts to 2.4% in the least deprived; from 2.4% to 1.8% in London; and from 4.9% to 4.0% in eastern England. The data also shows patients in certain ethnic groups are more likely to have to wait more than a year to start hospital treatment than in others. Some 3.2% of patients in England identifying as Bangladeshi had been waiting more than 12 months to begin treatment at the end of June, along with 3.0% of patients of Pakistani and African backgrounds, higher proportions than those identifying as Caribbean (2.9%), Chinese (2.8%), British (2.8%) or Indian (2.7%). This is a great step in making ethnic health inequities more visible Professor Habib Naqvi, NHS Race and Health Observatory Eastern England and south-west England are the regions with the largest ethnicity gap for people waiting more than a year to begin hospital treatment. The Government has announced new neighbourhood health centres in its 10-year plan for the NHS, which will be targeted first at the places where healthy life expectancy is lowest. According to the Department of Health, this includes 'de-industrialised cities and coastal towns, reducing the estimated £240-£330 billion cost of sickness to the economy.' Some 20 'further faster' teams have also been sent in to those NHS trusts with the longest waits to try to bring them down. The new data shows the largest specialty for those on the waiting list aged 18-64 is gynaecology (12% of all 18 to 64-year-olds), while it is ophthalmology for older adults. Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: 'We inherited an NHS which after years of neglect had left all patients worse off – but some more than others. 'Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Only by being upfront and shining a light on inequalities can we begin to tackle the problem. 'We will give all patients the care they need when they need it as part of our Plan for Change. 'Our 10-Year Health Plan will tackle health inequalities faced across the country, diverting billions of pounds to working-class communities, and providing truly targeted, bespoke care to all patients where they live via the neighbourhood health service.' Stella Vig, NHS national clinical director for elective care, said: 'Understanding patient demographics is vital if we are to identify and tackle the way different groups are treated. 'As well as allowing patients and the public to see the makeup of local lists, NHS teams will be able to analyse the latest data, understand where there is unwarranted variation in waiting times, and work with their communities to take action to reduce it.' Professor Habib Naqvi, chief executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: 'This is a great step in making ethnic health inequities more visible. 'Without robust, consistent data and transparency about what's happening in the healthcare system, we will not be able to enable genuine equitable decision making in the NHS, nor tackle and eradicate ethnic and racial inequalities in health in a sustained and meaningful way.' It comes as the Government announced that patients with long-term conditions will be automatically referred to specialist charities at the point of diagnosis from next year. Diagnosis Connect will ensure patients are referred directly to charities and support organisations in a move the Government says will 'complement, not replace', NHS care.
The Guardian
19-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
UK sickle cell patients ‘get worse care than sufferers of similar disorders'
People living with sickle cell disease face substandard care as its treatment significantly lags behind advances relating to other genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, a report has found. The study, commissioned by the NHS Race and Health Observatory and carried out by researchers at Imperial College London, analysed various measures of care for sickle cell disease between 2010 and 2024, including clinical trials, approved drugs and reviews of existing studies. The findings indicated that sickle cell care across the UK does not have parity with other genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, with there being only 0.5 specialist nurses per 100 patients for sickle cell, compared with two per 100 for cystic fibrosis. The report also found that there is 2.5 times more research funding for cystic fibrosis than for sickle cell, meaning the former has more treatment options and breakthrough drugs than the latter. Evidence of substandard care for people with sickle cell was also found, with 20% of babies with the condition not being seen by a specialist by three months of age, despite the NHS screening programme guidelines that 90% of babies should be seen by this milestone. Prof Habib Naqvi, the chief executive of the observatory, said sickle cell care 'significantly lags behind' that for other rare genetic conditions. He added: 'These inequalities are stark and, despite being a common genetic disorder, sickle cell has endured years of inadequate attention and investment that has resulted in the experiences we then see play out for people living with the condition. 'We do highlight the stark inequalities that exist for people with sickle cell in comparison with other rare conditions, but we also offer evidence-based solutions for meaningful change.' The report also found that these disparities in care for people with sickle cell disease were not due to a lack of need, given that hospital admissions for sickle cell rose by 42% between 2013 and 2022. These disparities exist despite the fact sickle cell disease is just as prevalent as other rare genetic disorders. The disorder primarily affects people from an African-Caribbean background. In England, about 17,000 people are living with the disease, an inherited blood disorder, with 250 new cases a year. Sickle cell disease changes the shape of blood cells into crescents, hindering blood flow. People with the condition experience severe painful episodes, which can require hospital admission. Approximately 11,000 people in the UK have cystic fibrosis, a condition which causes breathing and digestive problems due to mucus. The median age of death for sickle cell is 47. For cystic fibrosis, it is 48. John James, the chief executive of the Sickle Cell Society, said the landmark report 'makes it impossible for anyone to ignore the existence of deep inequalities faced by people with sickle cell – in healthcare, research funding and wider recognition'. He added that the findings were sobering. 'It is unimaginable that these disparities have, beyond all reason, continued for so long. 'However, by analysing how other long-term conditions are supported and resourced, it is clear to see the tangible difference that investment in healthcare makes.' Prof Bola Owolabi, NHS England's director for the National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, said: 'It is unacceptable that people with sickle cell disease face worse outcomes than those with other conditions, which is why the NHS England has stepped up with its sickle cell and thalassemia quality improvement project. 'Patient care has also been boosted by introduction of digital care plans so they don't need to repeat their stories to healthcare staff, and we have launched a campaign to boost awareness of key signs and symptoms of the disorder called Can You Tell It's Sickle Cell?'
