We started off our research by getting into our groups and conducting some online research into general healthcare. This is part of the diverge discovery phase, where we look at a broad area and cover a lot of ground. This was to get an initial understanding of the healthcare sector so that we can have more options to choose from when it comes to picking our problem. There was 3 different categories, and these were:
I was focusing on healthcare in the UK, and this is what I found.
Nine major challenges facing health and care in England
This article talked about how the NHS is under a lot of strain, and especially since the COVID pandemic. It mention how people are living for longer but with a major health condition and by 2040 1 in 5 people will have a major health condition that they have to live with. Caring for these people means additional demands. Most of these is diabetes and chronic pain. It also talked about how spending is going away from primary (GPs and Pharmacists) and community care, which is where most people get their first point of contact for diabetes.
Challenges Facing The NHS - The Medic Portal
This articles looked at the practical side of the NHS crisis. Funding hasn’t kept up with the rising demand for healthcare services which therefore puts a strain on resources, and hampers ability to invest in new technology. There is also rising staff shortages, which then leads to burnout, longer wait times, backlogs. Tackling this challenge will take a long time and there will be a lot of changes that will need to be made.
Problems with health care system in Great Britain 2024 | Statista
This bar chart looked at what people thought the biggest problem with the healthcare system in the UK was. Most people generally thought that it was the waiting times, not enough staff, lack of investment. Overall people found it harder to access health services due to waiting times. Because of this people are left unsure about their health and dread going to hospitals, as they know how much of a long process it is.
NHS England » What are healthcare inequalities?
What I found the most interesting was healthcare inequalities, which is when people have unfair disadvantages to health and well-being compared to others. Poorer people are more likely to get sick due to lack of access the healthy and nutritious food, as they can’t afford it or are uneducated of it’s benefits. Air quality, work conditions. People living in areas of high depravation, those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, the homeless, are most at risk of experiencing these inequalities. I also read another website which fights against these inequalities, and one of the statistics was that in the poorest and richest area in the UK there was a life expectancy difference of 16 years.
Overall I learnt a lot from this research and got a good grasp of the overall issues that are facing the UK and their health system.