Patients with the greatest need have least continuity of care

The Health Services Safety Investigations Body’s findings vividly show the perils of lack of continuity of care for patients.12 The named patient with a history of breast cancer saw 10 healthcare professionals, including six general practitioners, for back pain over a period of eight months, but his secondary cancer in the spine was not diagnosed until it was too late. Abundant evidence exists on the benefits of continuity of care for patients.34People from ethnic minorities and those living in deprived areas are more likely to experience a lack of continuity of care with its associated poorer outcomes. A recent study set in primary care found that five of 10 ethnic minority groups (Bangladeshi, Pakistani, black African, black Caribbean, and any other black background) had lower continuity of care than white patients.5 “Continuity was lower for patients in more deprived areas and younger patients, but this did not account for ethnic…
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