Heartfelt inequality

ETHNIC minority people with heart problems have poorer access to treatment than other heart patients, according to research published this month.

By comparing death rates and access to cardiac services in parts of East Lancashire, researchers have found the worst provision in areas with high numbers of people who are not white.

Tony Gatrell, director of the Institute of Health Research at Lancaster University, said one problem seemed to be poor communication between patients and GPs and between GPs and hospitals.

The project is part of a wider programme funded by the National Health Service Executive in the North West investigating management of health service provision.

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Research Papers

Research papers relating to the stories on this page (where indicated) can be found through THESIS, The THES Internet Service at: http://thesis.newsint.co.uk