Introduction
The problem of inequality in the medical field has been around for many years. In addition to this area of life, this kind of prejudice follows people in other socially significant aspects of life. Even though since childhood, people are taught to respect everyone regardless of their financial status, living conditions, and general condition in society, over time, this truth disappears. In medicine, all rules must be followed that tell how a person should be treated regardless of other factors. The code of ethics in healthcare explains these peculiarities and emphasizes the importance of achieving equality in treating people and providing them with just access to medical help (Chouhan, Nazroo, 2020). All people are important, and it is necessary to respect others so that others will feel it for them as well.
However, one must consider what inequality is and how it is defined in health care. These can be people below the poverty line, who do not have health insurance, which conflict with a country that provides health services, or who have an illness that may not seem possible for a doctor to treat (Department of Health, 2022). Housing policies that are introduced by the British government aim at improving the situation of social inequality, and the improvement in access to public healthcare is connected with the living conditions of people (Marí-Dell’Olmo et al., 2017). In other words, a homeless person cannot find a job, cannot buy insurance, and does not have access to basic healthcare options, which aggravates social injustice. These conditions pressure the individual, preventing them from entirely relying on the quality of services provided and preventing them from receiving proper treatment (Cross and Jenkins, 2019). These people are despised by society, and consequently, many feel unworthy of an appropriate doctor.
The Health Inequalities Annual Report 2022, compiled by the U.K. Department of Health, will be an example to analyze. Since it is an annual report, it is possible to compare previous years’ results to see the new categories of people who have been included in the list of inequalities and the general trend of attitudes toward them (Department of Health, 2022). This paper is fundamental in this issue because it does not look at a specific case in one person’s life but provides a thorough analysis of all of the above qualities of a person and how they affect treatment.
The authors of this work are Matthew Carson, Stewart Dunbar & Caolan Laverty, all of whom are certified experts in their field, namely the influence of sociology on the field of medicine, as well as methods of treatment of patients with different attitudes towards them (Department of Health, 2022). For more evident statistics, the work also included a specialist named Bill Stewart. He has been involved in calculations in various fields for several years and has experience in this project (Department of Health, 2022). Since the report is annual, it is evident that this problem does not exist for the first year, and people spend a lot of time-solving it. However, to understand the sources of this kind of relationship, it is necessary to gather statistics and data showing the real numbers. Thus, this work is required in today’s society, as it provides crucial statistics and is consistent with the cultural discourse concerning equality.
Discussion
Only after the analysis of the overall problem is completed does the work focus on each aspect, looking at the problems remotely from one another. With such an approach, it will be possible to state and classify the inequalities and their degree of influence on the course of treatment and understand why and how they manifest themselves (Exworthy, Blane, and Marmot, 2019). Considering these points is the basis of the fundamental analysis, and the conclusion of the problem is based on this part. Thus, the report is written in such a way as to pay full attention to the problem of inequalities in the treatment of patients (McKenzie, 2021). The different regions, where and what the problem is, and the disparity, in general, are considered, allowing to establish the public view of the problem and analyze it properly (McKenzie, 2021). It is also worth not forgetting that the presence of figures helps establish a general trend of the problem in the whole country since this report is annual and there is a basis for comparing different statistics for different periods.
Judging by the numbers from the collected statistics, a decrease in inequalities among the population in health care can be seen. The graphs show trends in how inequality progresses and general hospital and service statistics (Department of Health, 2022). Many indicators have remained unchanged, such as illnesses from complex diseases or the average age of a person. There is an evident connection between the existing social gap in the British community and the unequal access to healthcare services that affect the quality of people’s lives (Akhter et al., 2019). However, other figures are worth noting, such as the number of mothers who smoke during pregnancy. The figure has decreased by fifteen percent, indicating that this problem is being dealt with reasonably.
Overall, many graphs also show a positive trend, such as the Standardised Attendance Rate – Emergency Care, which increased by 4 percent compared to the same period one year ago (Department of Health, 2022). According to the estimates, the policies that focus on public health issues and equal access to medical services give positive results, but they require much time and effort (Barr, Higgerson, and Whitehead, 2017). Thus, the changes in the healthcare system have benefited the overall development of hospitals, and people have become more trusting of experienced staff despite the problems of inequality in society.
Patients with these kinds of problems require an extraordinary approach and attention from doctors and the rest of the treatment staff. That is why it is essential to take advanced training courses and find common ground with people who, for various reasons, are not like the rest. This way, the staff becomes more skilled in dealing with problem patients and others (Perera and Ekanayake, 2021). The inequality problem helps new doctors’ morale during their treatment assignment (Wistow et al., 2019). The first time for a young specialist will be challenging because the expectations of a university graduate may differ from the reality of a doctor’s practice (Perera and Ekanayake, 2021). Constant changes in the technological side of treatment make the work of the doctor and the nurse challenging, and healthcare professionals require qualifications (Weiss, Eikemo, Terje, 2017). After the first patients with financial or social problems, the young doctor gets to experiences which significantly influence him in the future, makes him more stress-resistant, and help solve problematic issues.
Equally important is the overall approach to treating such patients because, as mentioned earlier, they need special care and treatment. Thus, for example, people with low income and social responsibility should receive not only worthwhile medical care but also the help of a psychologist. It is a primary medical principle that all people should be helped and that no harm should come to them (Wehby, Nyarko, and Lopez-Camelo, 2018). Therefore, providing physical and psychological help with various issues is vital. There is the significant gap in self-reported health depending on the person’s gender, and the etimates show that men are less likely to ask for medical help than women (Harnois, Bastos, 2018). Therefore, the individual approach and empathy are critical in the healthcare practice. It is impossible to know what led the patient to this outcome, but it can help identify and stabilize the patient’s state of mind.
This kind of work is best done by novice psychologists who need constant practice and training in their professionalism. Thus, it will be possible to help the problem patiently and provide the necessary work for the specialist on this question (Cross and Jenkins, 2019). Since the person in question is not experienced in psychology as he has only recently begun to practice, it is necessary to have another, more experienced specialist supervise him at first (Samet, 2019). Such details are critical to consider when working with other people since the psychological health of the other person and their future development as a person is at stake.
It is also necessary to note what benefits from this situation exist for doctors and the place where they carry out the treatment. First, such practices with a psychologist for people who need them most but cannot afford their services will significantly improve the institution’s reputation (Boyle, 2020). It should be taken into account that such activities help strengthen the relationship with the employees themselves and thus unite them into a big family (Rao, Chandra, and Jennings, 2020). It will help in the efficiency of work and allow to count on better results in treating patients, as well as productive cooperation.
Going back to reputation and what it can bring to a hospital, it is essential to note that in addition to potentially more patients, it will also impact the healthcare program as a whole (Cross and Jenkins, 2019). It is no secret that those medical institutions receive grants for treatment and improved equipment in hospitals, which not only need it but also show an excellent rating among competitors (Torres, 2019). Therefore, referring to the above points, all parties will receive preference when applying this approach to patients with unequal rights. Patients will receive free medical care, which concerns their psychological health (Mackenbach, 2020). These people need respect and reverence for their personalities (Cross and Jenkins, 2019). They have been through a lot, and help from a psychological point of view will help them improve their lives and become a full member of society without any restrictions or conventions.
In addition, it is necessary to consider the other advantages of this approach for the patient. An analysis of this report is only a statistic, not a method of treating or treating such patients. We must also consider that, in addition to poverty, other determining factors distinguish some people from others. As previously mentioned, it can be an incurable disease like cancer (Mackenbach, 2020). It’s hard to imagine a more horrible diagnosis, and it’s impossible to imagine how a person feels after hearing that sentence from a doctor. Now the patient is faced with a long course of treatment and rehabilitation, the effects of which have not yet been scientifically proven (Mackenbach, 2020). Such people also deserve a separate image, as it is not easy for them either. There are also gender and ethnic inequalities in healthcare, which makes diversification necessary in this sphere (Lin, Hinze, 2017). Minorities and vulnerable members of the community often do not receive even basic medical help and psychological assistance when they have health problems (Bakhtiari et al., 2018). First, a consultation with a psychologist is necessary because only people in this profession can help correctly diagnose the patient despite his horror. After starting a rehabilitation course, it is essential to communicate with the person as often as possible, encourage them, and have simple and non-judgmental conversations (Agozino and Volpe, 2019). Statistics show that with a personal approach to the patient, their success rate increases significantly in this treatment (Emerson and Hatton, 2019). It is due primarily to a desire to continue to fight for their lives, knowing that the person is in an environment that cares about them and is trying their best to help.
In addition to such a move, it is necessary to inspire the person with a terminal illness to be creative. It distracts the patient from the problem and allows them to find themselves in another area (Clark, 2019). Once the patient becomes interested in a particular art form, he tries to continue to develop, and the disease recedes into the background. By engaging in creative work and finding oneself, the patient can overcome difficulties and find a way to solve even the most challenging problems.
It is also worth not forgetting the role of gender and color because they also affect the perception of other people. There are many stereotypes in the world, which in one way or another, play a role when working in society (Sallah, 2021). It is vital to remember that despite race and gender, all people are the same, and one should not distinguish one from another (Graham, 2021). It is especially true of doctors, as their bias can cost a person their health and, in some cases, even their life. People of color and gender should not be treated as if they are different and different from others (Graham, 2021). The times of segregation are long past, and it is necessary to move on by learning history lessons.
There is no need to look for a unique approach when dealing with these patients because they will be on an equal footing with other, equally essential patients (Cross and Jenkins, 2019). It is also crucial that other people in the same position as those of other races understand this since prejudice often creeps into their minds (Cross and Jenkins, 2019). All people working in health care must have one goal: to cure a person at any cost (Marmot, 2017). That is why it is crucial not to pay attention to the differences from others but to continue their work without thinking about who a particular doctor is treating. The COVID-19 pandemic showed that the problems with health inequalities affect all social groups differently (Bambra et al., 2021). The level of vaccination among minorities and vulnerable populations was significantly lower compared to other social groups (Allik et al., 2017). Therefore, the problem of healthcare inequalities is relevant to modern society.
Conclusion
Various factors refer to treating and how to properly provide medical care to people who need it more than others. Unfortunately, there are no specific recommendations for the treatment of these people or specific ways to treat them. However, the report is still helpful because it helps to analyze what is happening in the medical field from the point of view of people with unequal rights. By examining this paper, we can see that many people in the world still need special treatment and are treated more carefully. Even though the percentage of such people is decreasing, we cannot be complacent about what has been achieved.
Research shows that treating people with inequality with respect helps them feel on equal footing with others and thus can help them find an environment where they are valuable members of society. In the end, it is necessary to summarize the report for which this paper is written and the problem as a whole. The investigation describes the main issues, the number of people who suffer from them, and a trend of development or reduction of their number. It does not contain treatment recommendations, as this should be a one-size-fits-all approach for each patient and depends on the circumstances around the patient.
The work done in the study is very important and necessary from the point of view of not only medicine but also sociology. As can be seen, most of the methods of solving the problem of inequality were solved at the social level, not at the medical station. It allows a more flexible search of the decision of the issues and not to depend only on one sphere in the life of people. Besides medicine, people suffering from inequality live and fall apart in other spheres. Therefore, they need help not only in rendering medical services but also in other aspects of life.
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