Public health
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Comparative Study
Analysis of regional variation in hip and knee joint replacement rates in England using Hospital Episodes Statistics.
Total hip and knee joint replacements are effective interventions for people with severe arthritis, and demand for these operations appears to be increasing as our population ages. This study explores regional variations in health care and inequalities in the provision of these expensive interventions, which are high on the UK Government's health agenda. ⋯ These data can help to inform planning of services. They suggest that there may be inequities as well as inequalities in the provision of primary joint replacement surgery in England.