How this fits in

The current emergency department (ED) ‘crisis’ in England has been linked to health inequality as a result of people living in more deprived areas using NHS services more frequently than those living in less deprived areas. Patients with mental health problems are at greater risk of repeated hospital admissions and increased number of attendances to general practices when adjusting for socioeconomic status. The National Institute of Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care North West Coast Household Health Survey provides information on the rate of use of services in regions of the north west coast of England. Mental health comorbidities increase the risk of attendances to both EDs and general practices. Depression predicts higher ED attendance and anxiety predicts higher general practice attendance when adjusting for physical health and socioeconomic status.