Barriers to access to health care for carers and interventions to remedy variations

Researchers: Hilary Arksey, Sally Baldwin, Alison Wallace, Emese Mayhew, Julie Glanville, with Liz Newbronner & Philippa Hare (Acton.Shapiro)

Funder: NHS Service Delivery and Organisation R&D Programme

Duration: July 2002 to May 2003

SPRU, in partnership with the consultancy Acton.Shapiro, were commissioned to carry out a literature review and consultation exercise. The overall aim of the exercise was to document the evidence base, and the role of theory, in relation to the problems and barriers to access to health care for carers and interventions to remedy interventions. The findings also shed light on further research and development work that may be of value in this area. The research team examined the evidence from UK and international research (published and unpublished) in order to identify:

• The problems and barriers which carers experience in accessing health care services (including health promoting and preventive services), and any associated issues relating to equity of access and level of unmet need
• Evidence of specific interventions that can improve carers’ access to health care services, and how these may vary according to carers’ circumstances

The views of key stakeholders are central to the review and informed its findings and recommendations. During the course of the study, the research team consulted with three main groups of stakeholders:

• Carers’ organisations and groups, including: national carers organisations; national organisations interested in specific groups of carers; and national or regional carers’ groups and networks
• National bodies with an interest in improving access to health care, including NHS Executive, CHI, Health Development Agency, Patients’ Association
• Local NHS organisations responsible for improving access to health care, notable primary care trusts and acute/mental health trusts

The consultation explored perceptions of the barriers carers faced in gaining access to health care services, canvassed ideas on how access can be improved and identified specific examples of interventions or good practice in facilitating carers’ access to health care.

Publications

Show Abstract...

2005

Access to health care for carers, 2005
Arksey, H., Briefing paper, National Co-ordinating Centre for NHS Service Delivery and Organisation Research and Development.

2003

Access to Health Care for Carers: Intervention evaluations: Supplementary report, 2003
Arksey, H., National Co-ordinating Centre for NHS Service Delivery and Organisation.

Access to Health Care for Carers: Barriers and interventions, 2003
Arksey, H., Jackson, K., Wallace, A., Baldwin, S., Golder, S., Newbronner, E., and Hare, P., NHS NCCSDO.