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Are local public expenditure reductions associated with increases in inequality in emergency hospitalisation? Time-series analysis of English local authorities from 2010 to 2017

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Sarah SowdenORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ. Background: Reductions in local government funding implemented in 2010 due to austerity policies have been associated with worsening socioeconomic inequalities in mortality. Less is known about the relationship of these reductions with healthcare inequalities; therefore, we investigated whether areas with greater reductions in local government funding had greater increases in socioeconomic inequalities in emergency admissions. Methods: We examined inequalities between English local authority districts (LADs) using a fixed-effects linear regression to estimate the association between LAD expenditure reductions, their level of deprivation using the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and average rates of (all and avoidable) emergency admissions for the years 2010-2017. We also examined changes in inequalities in emergency admissions using the Absolute Gradient Index (AGI), which is the modelled gap between the most and least deprived neighbourhoods in an area. Results: LADs within the most deprived IMD quintile had larger pounds per capita expenditure reductions, higher rates of all and avoidable emergency admissions, and greater between-neighbourhood inequalities in admissions. However, expenditure reductions were only associated with increasing average rates of all and avoidable emergency admissions and inequalities between neighbourhoods in local authorities in England's three least deprived IMD quintiles. For a LAD in the least deprived IMD quintile, a yearly reduction of £100 per capita in total expenditure was associated with a yearly increase of 47 (95% CI 22 to 73) avoidable admissions, 142 (95% CI 70 to 213) all-cause emergency admissions and a yearly increase in inequalities between neighbourhoods of 48 (95% CI 14 to 81) avoidable and 140 (95% CI 60 to 220) all-cause emergency admissions. In 2017, a LAD average population was ∼170 000. Conclusion: Austerity policies implemented in 2010 impacted less deprived local authorities, where emergency admissions and inequalities between neighbourhoods increased, while in the most deprived areas, emergency admissions were unchanged, remaining high and persistent.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Castro-Avila AC, Cookson R, Doran T, Shaw R, Brittain J, Sowden S

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Emergency Medicine Journal

Year: 2024

Volume: 41

Issue: 7

Pages: 389-396

Print publication date: 01/07/2024

Online publication date: 13/06/2024

Acceptance date: 20/04/2024

Date deposited: 24/06/2024

ISSN (print): 1472-0205

ISSN (electronic): 1472-0213

Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group

URL: https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2022-212845

DOI: 10.1136/emermed-2022-212845

Data Access Statement: Data may be obtained from a third party and are not publicly available. This study used data aggregated at lower super output area level from the Secondary Uses Service dataset. We cannot publish this dataset, but other researchers can use it by applying for access to NHS England. All other datasets used are publicly available.


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
CA-CL-2018-04- ST2-010
Health Education England
National Institute for Health Research
NHS North of England Care System Support (NECS)
RCF funding

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