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- Talk
- 29/09/2024
- UK
Inequalities in Provision of Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery for Osteoarthritis in England Between 2007-2017
Description
In this presentation, researchers from the University of Bristol, Sheffield, and York discuss a study on inequalities in the provision of hip and knee replacements in England, focusing on data collected from 2007 to 2017. Professor Jan-Erik Gjertsen emphasizes the foundational principle of fairness in healthcare access within the NHS and highlights the longstanding disparities by age, gender, and social class, particularly affecting the most deprived populations.
Using the National Joint Registry data, they analyze trends in primary hip and knee replacements among individuals aged 50 and older, relating this to demographic data from the Office for National Statistics. The findings reveal that while there has been an overall increase in surgeries, significant inequalities persist, especially in the most deprived groups, who received fewer procedures compared to wealthier counterparts.
The results indicate that from 2007 to 2012, inequalities were relatively stable, but from 2012 to 2017, disparities widened further, especially in the private sector. Geographical analysis shows that access varies significantly across regions, with striking differences in surgery rates between the least and most served areas.
The presenter concludes by stressing the urgent need for the NHS to reassess and enhance strategies to address these inequalities effectively.