access and barriers to services
DESCRIPTION
Unit 1- Effective Caring RevisionTRANSCRIPT
Barriers to services
Inadequate resources
Lack of: Funding Staff Equipment
Lack of the above can lead to delays in receiving treatment
Examples of inadequate resources causing delays: Not enough care home places so
elderly people have to wait Hospital doesn’t have a scanner so
patients have to travel Wards closed due to lack of staff so
waiting lists longer
Overcome barrier of inadequate resources by increasing funding, e.g. Increase local taxes Social services budgets NHS funding Increase national taxation – alcohol,
cigarettes, petrol etc.
Funding not always the answer: May not be enough suitably trained staff to
employ even if the funding to do so is available, e.g. no consultants or specialist nurse practitioners around to employ then remains an inadequate resource!
Overcome this by: providing more training places at universities Improving working conditions, e.g. pay Encouraging people to enter health and care
professions
Physical difficulties People may find it difficult to get to
services: May work away from home Opening times may not fit in with working
hours Live in rural areas – no car, can’t drive, no
public transport Elderly and/or disabled may find travelling
difficult due to transport not being adapted to their needs.
Overcome physical barriers by: Having NHS walk-in health centres
where appointments are not necessary Extended opening hours Community transport to hospital, GP
appointments, day centres and so on Provide home visits for some clients,
e.g. community nurses
Communication Speak different language Deafness Blindness Illiteracy Overcome barriers by
Multi language leaflets and information sheets
Hearing loops Braille Signers Advocates
Ignorance This means lack of knowledge about the
service. May be: Don’t know the service exists Don’t know how to access the service Don’t know that they have the right to the service
Overcome this barrier by providing information: Advertising in newspapers or on TV Leaflet distribution to houses or in health centres