A study led by William Palmer on access to treatments, and outcomes, for stroke patients admitted at the weekend appeared on the front page of the Telegraph and was also featured on Radio 4 in July. William is a part-time PhD student based at the Dr Foster Unit, and his research focuses on the feasibility of using administrative data to evaluate the quality and safety of hospital care. The paper confirmed previous international studies which suggested poorer outcomes for patients admitted at weekends but extended the existing analyses by providing explanations for why this might be happening, including access to specialist staff and urgent treatments. He hopes that the results will help accelerate the shift towards providing a more consistent level of NHS care to emergency patients across all days of the week.
The integration of Work Coaches (WCs) & Disability Employment Advisors (DEAs) into UK General Practice (GP) provides an innovative approach to bridging the gap between health & employment services. We now reflect on the findings of our recent study led by Shriti Patani, Lara Shemtob & Kabir Varghese in collaboration with colleagues from the Department of Primary Care and Public Health at Imperial College London. The study explored the benefits & challenges of integrating emplyment support services in primary care from the perspectives of GPs & work coaches. What’s the context? Employment is a critical social determinant of health, with unemployment linked to poorer physical & mental wellbeing & reduced quality of life. Traditionally, individuals seeking employment support access services through Jobcentres. However, barriers including stigma or lack of awareness - especially in people with disabilities or long-term health conditions -...
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