Published 21 July 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b2933
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b2933

Letters

Mind the gap

Do we mind the gap?

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Hawkes describes how inequalities in health in the UK reflect inequities in society.1 I disagree that "there’s not much that health care can do about that."

Certain groups find it difficult to register with a GP, including people who exhibit challenging behaviour, move frequently with their work, are homeless or vulnerably housed, or are gypsies, travellers, migrants, refugees, or asylum seekers. GPs can register anyone for primary care whom they believe to be eligible, yet it has become common practice to require identification papers, proof of address, or other documentation to register. Where the impetus for introducing what is in effect a barrier to services has come from is unclear: the Department of Health has not issued guidance to this effect.

Access to health care depends on candidacy and permeability. The person must feel that they are a candidate for a certain health intervention, and the health professional to whom . . . [Full text of this article]

Angela M Jones, freelance general practitioner1

1 Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4PD

angela.jones@inclusivehealth.co.uk


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Mind the gap
Nigel Hawkes
BMJ 2009 338: b2604. [Extract] [Full Text]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

The gap is down to politics and not society
Tony M Hirst
bmj.com, 31 Jul 2009 [Full text]
GPs should take the lead to address health inequalities
Julian Law
bmj.com, 6 Aug 2009 [Full text]
Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student BMJ