Hospital care among ethnic minorities in Britain

This study examined ethnic differences in the levels of inpatient admission and outpatient attendance in Great Britain using the latest national data available from the General Household Surveys of 1983-87. Inpatient admissions in immigrants (Indian, Pakistani and West Indian) did not differ significantly from whites, except for a marked excess in Pakistani women of childbearing ages. The pattern was quite different for outpatient attendance, with immigrant children and young adults having lower attendance rates than whites, and middle-aged immigrant adults showing higher rates. Levels of hospital-based care among immigrant groups may be lower than expected. As monitoring of the health status of ethnic groups, and their use of services, receives increasing recognition, it is important that information on ethnic origin is included in routine health information systems.