A realist review of how, why, for whom and in which contexts quality improvement in healthcare impacts inequalities.

Introduction: Quality improvement (QI) is aimed at improving care. Equity is one of the six domains of healthcare quality, as defined by the Institute of Medicine. If this domain is ignored, QI projects have the potential to maintain or even worsen inequalities.

Exploring the policy implementation of a holistic approach to cancer investigation in non-specific symptom pathways in England: An ethnographic study.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the policy implementation of non-specific symptom pathways within the English National Health Service.

Methods: A multi-site ethnographic project was conducted in four hospitals that contained non-specific symptom pathways between November 2021 and February 2023. The research involved observation (44 h), interviews ( = 54), patient shadowing, and document review.

Uptake and experience of professional interpreting services in primary care in a South Asian population: a national cross-sectional study.

Background: Interpreting services bridge language barriers that may prevent patients and clinicians from understanding each other, impacting quality of care and health outcomes. Despite this, there is limited up-to-date evidence regarding the barriers to and facilitators of uptake in primary care. The aim of this study was to ascertain current national uptake and experience of interpreting services in primary care (general practice) by South Asian communities in England.

How do GPs communicate the urgent suspected cancer referral pathway to patients? A qualitative study of GP-patient consultations.

Background: The UK National Institute for Health and Care (NICE) recommends that GPs inform patients referred onto the Urgent Suspected Cancer (USC) pathway about what to expect from the service. However, there is a lack of evidence on patient experience and information needs at the point of referral. It is a challenge for GPs to communicate the reasons for referral and provide reassurance.