{"id":144120,"date":"2018-06-21T02:47:08","date_gmt":"2018-06-21T02:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/freeonlinetranslators.net\/news\/english\/sex-drugs-and-ae-10-charts-on-how-the-under-30s-use-the-nhs\/"},"modified":"2018-06-21T02:47:08","modified_gmt":"2018-06-21T02:47:08","slug":"sex-drugs-and-ae-10-charts-on-how-the-under-30s-use-the-nhs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freeonlinetranslators.net\/news\/english\/sex-drugs-and-ae-10-charts-on-how-the-under-30s-use-the-nhs\/","title":{"rendered":"Sex, drugs and A&E: 10 charts on how the under-30s use the NHS"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"PictureImage copyright Getty Images <\/figure>\n

Most of us make greatest use of the NHS at the beginning and end of our lives.<\/p>\n

But although the 18-30s have youth on their side, their relationship with the NHS is still significant. <\/p>\n

Since health is devolved, information on the NHS is collected separately by each UK country - but many of the trends found in England are similar to those of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. <\/p>\n

So how do young people shape the services supplied by the NHS and how has it shaped them?<\/p>\n

1. Young adults are big users of A&E...<\/h2>\n

In 2016-17, 18- to 29-year-olds made 3.9 million visits to accident and emergency units in England, representing 20% of all visits - this is despite representing just 16% of the population as a whole. <\/p>\n

Young adults are one of only two adult groups in England whose use of A&E is proportionately higher than their population, the other being over-65s. <\/p>\n

Among young adults, this need for urgent care might reflect more active, sometimes chaotic, lifestyles, with high admissions due to sporting accidents, violence and alcohol-related incidents. <\/p>\n

2. ...but are using other hospital services less <\/h2>\n

While young adults might be more likely to visit A&E, their overall engagement with hospitals is considerably less. <\/p>\n

With less need for major procedures and repeat visits, 15- to 29-years-olds account for just 10% of hospital "episodes" in England.<\/p>\n

And most of these visits are by women, partly explained by the role hospitals play in pregnancy and maternity issues. <\/p>\n

Also, 15- to 29-year-olds have less need for longer-term treatments. In 2016, for example, this group accounted for under 2% of new cancer diagnoses in England. <\/p>\n

3. They are less likely to see their GP<\/h2>\n

GP attendance statistics have not been collected by NHS England since 2008, but we do have 2013 statistics from NHS Scotland, which show that GP visits increase with age. <\/p>\n

Young women are more than twice as likely to visit than men. <\/p>\n

Cervical cancer screenings and contraceptive services will play a part in this gender gap. <\/p>\n

4. Their lifestyles are getting better<\/h2>\n

In some key areas, young adults are moving away from unhealthy habits such as drinking and smoking. <\/p>\n

Public health campaigns, such as NHS England's Smokefree - and equivalent programmes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - have long aimed to reduce the prevalence of these habits. <\/p>\n

This doesn't just improve health but also reduces the economic burden placed on the NHS. <\/p>\n

5. And drug addiction treatments are dropping<\/h2>\n

Last year, there were 40,385 people between the ages of 18 and 29 receiving treatment for drug problems across England. <\/p>\n

Public Health England suggests this is in part due to declining use of drugs by the age group, but over the period drug services have also been cut. <\/p>\n

Overall drug treatment is highest among people in their 30s, but 18- to 29-year-olds were the most likely to receive help for cannabis use - there were 11,200 new patients last year. <\/p>\n

Interventions can include inpatient detoxification, self-help and medicinal treatment. <\/p>\n

6. They have benefited from health changes<\/h2>\n

A hundred years ago, the top 10 causes of death in England and Wales included pneumonia, epilepsy, diphtheria and scarlet fever.<\/p>\n

But improved healthcare and scientific innovation over the intervening decades have helped ensure that young people are less likely to have - or eventually die from - life-altering diseases or infections. <\/p>\n

Today, the biggest killers tend to be injury or self-harm. <\/p>\n

This has highlighted modern public health issues including violent crime - the fourth biggest killer of young men - and mental health. <\/p>\n

7. Young women receive most mental health support<\/h2>\n

According to the NHS's mental health survey, young women in England are the most likely group to have mental health problems. <\/p>\n

Roughly a quarter of women aged 16 to 34 have a common mental health disorder, a problem that has increased over time. <\/p>\n

Not everyone seeks help for these problems, but when necessary doctors can refer them for "talking therapy".<\/p>\n

Not all referrals will receive "talking therapy", with some requiring more intensive treatment.<\/p>\n

And other referrals will not result in treatment because patients may opt out. <\/p>\n

Efforts have been made to increase awareness and accessibility to mental health services in recent years. <\/p>\n

For example targets have been introduced aiming at ensuring those with their first case of psychosis are seen within two weeks, but these aren't always being met. <\/p>\n

8. Young adults dominate sexual health service usage<\/h2>\n

Last year in England, 814,479 young adults aged between 18 and 34 used face-to-face sexual health services. <\/p>\n

Over a third of users were aged between 18 to 24, of which 90% were women, usually consulting about contraception. <\/p>\n

In recent years, face-to-face consultations have decreased as more information and services are made available online. <\/p>\n

Over this period, sexually transmitted infections have decreased - but recent increases in syphilis and gonorrhoea have raised concerns about changes in sexual practices. <\/p>\n

9. They cost the NHS relatively little to care for<\/h2>\n

The Department of Health spends \u00a3124bn a year on health in England, most of which goes directly to NHS England. <\/p>\n

Given that young adults tend to have more short-term health problems, they are relatively inexpensive to treat. The general trend is the older you get, the more expensive treatment is. <\/p>\n

The average working 24-year-old in England will pay about \u00a3340 in tax towards health each year. <\/p>\n

10. They are supportive of the way the NHS is run<\/h2>\n

Young adults in England tend to be supportive of the way the NHS is run, but no more so than the rest of the population. <\/p>\n

According to the NatCen Social Research, 61% are very or quite supportive of the running of the NHS, compared with 63% of the total population. <\/p>\n

When asked if they were willing to pay more in taxes to support the NHS, 19% of young people said they would, and 31% said they would support a new NHS ring-fenced tax.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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