The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Barriers to accessing and using primary care services among minoritised ethnic communities have been extensively evidenced in the UK. However, the impact of the rapid digitalisation of these services on these communities remains under-researched. ⋯ The rapid digitalisation of primary care services is replicating and potentially exacerbating barriers to using these services among minoritised ethnic communities, a finding that merits urgent attention by practitioners and policymakers.
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Living in socioeconomically deprived areas is associated with shorter lives and worse health. GPs working in these areas face additional challenges compared with those in more affluent locations. ⋯ Improving the environmental conditions, empowering individuals, and investing in communities are essential factors to achieving health. The current model of providing reactionary acute care is leading to GPs experiencing powerlessness and feelings of helplessness at the Deep End.
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People from ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, less likely to access primary health care, and have reported dissatisfaction with health care. Although the prevalence of long COVID in ethnic minority groups is unclear, such populations are underrepresented in long-COVID specialist clinics and long-COVID lived-experience research, which informed the original long-COVID healthcare guidelines. ⋯ Empathy, validation of experiences, and fairness in recognition and support of healthcare needs are required to restore trust in health care and improve the experiences of people with long COVID.
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Adults with learning disability face multiple adversities, but evidence on their needs and primary care experiences is limited. ⋯ Adults reporting a learning disability had a higher likelihood of chronic health conditions. Their reported experiences of primary care indicate that, despite recent initiatives to improve services offered, further adaptations to the consistency and ease of access to primary care is needed.