Disabled people denied primary health care services

DISABLED PEOPLE DENIED PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES Significant numbers of disabled people face greater difficulties than the general population in accessing primary health care services, according to a survey released by leading disability charity Leonard Cheshire. Leonard Cheshire's 2002 Social Exclusion Report, contrasts disabled people's levels of poverty and social exclusion with that of the general population. The findings show that disabled people face far higher levels of poverty and social exclusion than members of the general population do. Critically, disabled people face barriers in accessing essential civic services, such as primary health care, denying them the tools to become inclusive citizens. John Knight, Head of External Policy at Leonard Cheshire and a co-author of the report, commented: "This report starkly illustrates that the poverty and social exclusion disabled people face is much greater than for the general population." He went on to say: "Until disabled people are given the economic, educational and civic opportunities to exercise their rights and responsibilities in society, then social exclusion is more or less guaranteed. This is avoidable and must be avoided." · 82% of disabled people feel personal care is essential but 20% cannot afford it · 92% feel it necessary to have personal support for work, education or training but 21% can't afford it. · One third of the disabled people surveyed cannot afford to meet the extra heating costs arising from their disability. The greater levels of poverty and social exclusion experienced by disabled people are further exacerbated by factors unique to their disability: · Four times more disabled participants than was the case in the general population found dental practices inaccessible · 21% found accident and emergency units inadequate. This is over 50% higher than for the general population. · 12% of wheelchair users found doctors' s surgeries inaccessible, whilst 60% of profoundly deaf people found them so. Ends Notes to editors The Research Inclusive Citizenship is Leonard Cheshire's latest examination of disabled people's experience of social exclusion. This research replicates and extends the methods used by Gordon et al in Poverty and Social Exclusion in Britain (2002), known as the PSE, which was supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The PSE reported on poverty and social exclusion among the general population in Britain. For Leonard Cheshire's survey, all the participants were disabled people and the findings from our survey were compared with those reported in the PSE. Leonard Cheshire wanted to find out if the poverty and social exclusion experienced by disabled people differ from those experienced by the general population and, if so, the impact of this on their lives. Recommendations As a result of this research Leonard Cheshire recommends that: 1. the new Strategic Regional Health Authorities should be given specific responsibilities and powers to ensure that all health services, primary and secondary, are fully accessible to all disabled people. 2. the Government should abolish charges for personal care for all disabled people, regardless of age. 3. Accessible, affordable transport is vital in enabling disabled people to participate in society. The forthcoming report from the Government's Social Exclusion Unit must address where public transport is failing to do this. 4. For new trains, stations and other related facilites, the Government and the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) should ensure that the highest standards of design for equal access are applied. An end date should be set for existing inaccessible trains to be replaced as a matter of urgency. For a copy of the Social Exclusion report, costing £10 per copy for organisations and £5 for individuals, please call 020 7802 8200 or e- mail on info@london.leonard-cheshire.org.uk For press enquiries please call Rosemary Hargreaves on 020 7802 8246 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/30/20020430BIT00470/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/30/20020430BIT00470/wkr0002.pdf