The study draws on in-depth interviews with 48 people from minoritised groups from across the UK who reported harm from NHS treatment, delays in care, or lack of access to services. Participants were selected on the basis of ethnicity, faith, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, with many reporting more than one of these characteristics.
The researchers used a socio-ecological framework to explore how contributory factors to harm operate across five levels: individual, interpersonal, community, organisational and societal.
Key findings:
- Most participants described experiencing moderate or severe physical and/or psychological harm, often with long-lasting impacts on their health and wellbeing;
- Participants described a wide range of experiences that contributed to health-related harm, including delayed diagnoses, inadequate pain management, poor coordination of care, and dismissive or discriminatory interactions with healthcare professionals. Many said they felt ignored, stereotyped or treated as a burden, which left them feeling unsafe, losing trust and reluctant to seek further NHS care;
Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Population Health website.