Socioeconomic inequality and barriers to primary care in Scotland: A literature review
This report presents a literature review on barriers to accessing primary care in Scotland. The report demonstrates that multiple factors tied to socioeconomic deprivation impact one’s ability to seek and reach healthcare, and experiences of care. It describes four areas of relevance to policy.
Appendix III: Plain English infographic
Different experiences of health and care
Knowing about health: To know you need healthcare you must first know about illnesses, their symptoms and who to go to for help.
Looking for healthcare: Looking for healthcare is affected by whether you know what service is best for your needs. To look for healthcare you must also trust that you will have a good experience and be treated with respect.
Getting to healthcare: Many healthcare services need you to book an appointment which can be challenging. You must also be able to attend the appointment, which can be difficult if you cannot get time off work or afford transport.
Experiences of healthcare: How staff treat you can affect your experiences of healthcare services. Staff can be much busier in areas of Scotland where there are greater health needs, and patients can have poorer experiences.
Things that make it difficult to get healthcare
Knowing about health
- Not knowing about illnesses and symptoms.
- Not feeling that you deserve healthcare.
- Not having confidence.
- How your family and friends understand and talk about health.
Looking for healthcare
- Not knowing about healthcare services.
- Experiences of being treated badly in the past, such as racism and discrimination.
- Bad experiences of care among family and friends.
Getting to healthcare
- Not having money or a way to attend appointments.
- Not having help to book an appointment when this is difficult to do.
- Not understanding how to book an appointment.
- Not having a phone or computer.
Experiences of healthcare
- Staff being busier in areas where there are greater health needs.
- Staff not understanding the issues faced by patients with greater health needs.
- Not being treated with kindness.
Main Issues
Trust in healthcare and healthcare staff: Some people may not know about illness or may not feel confident enough to look for care. Everyone should feel welcomed by healthcare services and know they will be treated with respect.
Working with patients and communities: Working more closely with patients and communities where there are greater needs can help. This can give them more knowledge about healthcare, link them to the best services for them, and make sure support meets their needs.
Meeting need for everyone: Patients in areas where there are greater health needs can have poorer experiences of healthcare. It is important that staff know about the challenges faced by these patients and have enough time for them.
Actions that could make things better
Knowing about health
- Helping people to feel confident about health.
- Supporting people to look for healthcare services.
- Making sure information about health meets the needs of different communities.
- Clear message that healthcare in Scotland is open to all.
Looking for healthcare
- Making sure that people from all communities know about health services.
- Making sure healthcare services challenge racism and discrimination.
- Building trust amongst communities with greater needs.
Getting to healthcare
- Making sure appointments can be made and attended easily.
- Services reaching patients who often miss appointments.
- Services communicating with patients in a way they can understand, and providing the same staff member where possible.
Experiences of healthcare
- Making sure the needs of all patients are met, including those with more complex health concerns.
- Improved understanding of the issues faced by patients with greater needs.
- Appointments that meet the needs of those with complex health issues.