Health Inequalities Report 2025

Author

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB

Published

18 September 2025

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Introduction

This is an updated report on health inequalities that forms part of the ICB’s response to NHS England’s Statement on Information on Health Inequalities (duty under section 13SA of the National Health Service Act 2006) that describes information that the ICB should collect, analyse and publish as part of addressing health inequalities. Last year’s report is available here.

It is intended that information within this report should be used by services and boards to inform service improvement and reductions in healthcare inequalities.

The report covers ten domains and - where possible - focuses on variables by: sex/gender, age, deprivation and ethnicity. The indicators align to the five priority areas for addressing healthcare inequalities set out in national priorities and operational planning guidance and the Core20PLUS5 approach.

Data has either been sourced from existing anonymised data sources (e.g. SUS) or tools/dashboards that have been made available via NHS England. Where available, data corresponds to the 2024–25 financial year, although this is not always possible especially for externally published datasets.

This report provides a high-level descriptive overview to monitor activity and will be used to inform deeper analysis where needed to help reduce healthcare inequalities.

To navigate this report, the contents panel on the left provides access to the ten domains and their indicators. Within each section, results can be filtered by variable type (sex/gender, age, deprivation, ethnicity), where available.


1 Elective Recovery

1.1 Size and shape of the waiting list

The data presented below is for all patients still awaiting treatment as of week ending 26th May 2025. The data is for all patients across all treatment services and all referral types (urgent, two-week and routine) combined and is designed to show a high-level summary that may indicate potential inequalities.

Note that there are likely to be different case-mixes within each group, whilst the treatment service and referral type are also likely to affect wait times which could potentially skew some of the data.

Note that due to small numbers, this data has been filtered to include male and female stated genders only.

Note that patients without a valid age have not been included in this data.

Note that patients without a valid LSOA area of residence are not included in this data. LSOA is required to match to deprivation quintile.

Note that the large number of patients with an Unknown ethnicity could potentially skew this analysis. This is indicative of data quality issues with patient ethnicity not always properly captured.

The above charts show that:

  • Female patients have a slightly longer median wait time of 15 weeks compared to male patients (14 weeks). Statistical tests also identified a significant difference between the two groups, indicating female patients have longer waits.

  • Patients in the middle age group (18 to 44 years old) have the longest median wait time of 16 weeks, the youngest (aged 0 to 17 years old) and oldest (65+) age groups have the shortest median wait time of 14 weeks. Statistical tests identified a significant difference between age groups, whilst a further pair-wise test found that the most significant difference was between the 18 to 44 years old age group and the 0 to 17 year old age group.

  • Patients from the from each deprivation quintile have a similar median wait time of 14 weeks. Further statistical testing did not identify any significant variation by deprivation group.

  • Patients of Asian or of Black ethnicity have longer median wait times of 16 weeks compared to other known ethnic groups who have a median wait time of 14 and 15 weeks. Statistical tests identified a significant difference between known ethnic groups, whilst a further pair-wise test found that the most significant difference was between the White group and the Asian group.

1.2 Patient waiting more than 18/52/65 weeks

The above charts show that:

  • There is a significantly higher proportion of female patients waiting more than 52 weeks. There is no significant variation between men and women who are waiting 18 week or more, or 65 weeks or more.

  • There is a significantly higher proportion of patients aged 18 to 44 who wait more than 18 weeks, wait more than 52 weeks or wait more than 65 weeks.

  • There is not much significant variation by known deprivation group for patients waiting more than 18 weeks or waiting more than 52 weeks. For those waiting 65 weeks or more, however, the there is a significantly higher proportion of patients from the most deprived group.

  • There is a significantly higher proportion of Asian patients who are waiting more than 18 weeks, and a significantly higher proportion of Asian patients waiting more than 65 weeks.

1.3 Elective admissions

Local SUS inpatient has been analysed for the 2024-25 financial year on elective admissions for the registered and resident population within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

The above charts show that:

  • Elective admission rates are returning to pre-pandemic levels
  • Women have a significantly higher rate of elective admissions compared to the overall rate, and the men have a lower rate
  • Elective admissions tend to increase with age
  • Persons from the most deprived and second most deprived groups have a significantly higher rate compared to the overall rate, whilst the rate is significantly lower for the least deprived groups
  • Elective admissions are significantly higher for patients of White ethnicity

1.4 Emergency admissions

Local SUS inpatient has been analysed for the 2024-25 financial year on emergency admissions for the registered and resident population within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

The above charts show that:

  • Although emergency admission rates had been returning to pre-pandemic levels, there has been a decrease in the rate during 2024/25
  • There is no significant variation in emergency admissions rates by stated gender
  • Emergency admissions tend to increase with age, with a notable exception for infants aged 0 to 4 years old
  • The emergency admission rate is significantly higher for persons from the two most deprived groups compared to the overall rate, and significantly lower for the least deprived groups
  • Emergency admissions are significantly higher for patients of White ethnicity

1.5 A&E attendances

Accident and emergency (A&E) attendance data, derived from ECDS, has been analysed for the 2024-25 financial year for the registered and resident population within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

The above charts show that:

  • A&E attendance rates have been steadily increasing since the pandemic
  • The rate of A&E attendances is significantly higher for women compared to the overall rate, and is lower for men
  • A&E attendances tend to increase with age, with a notable exception for infants aged 0 to 4 years old
  • The A&E attendance rate is significantly higher for residents from the two most deprived groups compared to the overall rate, and is significantly lower for those from the least deprived groups
  • A&E attendances are significantly higher for patients of Mixed ethnicity and for patients of White ethnicity

Note that data presented here reflect the reporting guidelines of the source at the time, and that there were some changes in the underlying data that first became apparent in April 2022

1.6 Outpatient appointments

Outpatient appointment data, derived from SUS, has been analysed for the 2024-25 financial year for the registered and resident population within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

The above charts show that:

  • The rate of outpatient appointments has been steadily increasing since 2020/21 and are now nearing pre-pandemic levels
  • The outpatient appointment rate is significantly higher for women compared to the overall rate, and significantly lower for men
  • The rate of outpatient appointments tend to increase with age
  • Outpatient appointment rates are significantly higher for persons from the two most deprived groups compared to the overall rate, and significantly lower for the least deprived groups
  • The rate of outpatient appointments are significantly higher for patients of Mixed ethnicity and for patients of White ethnicity

1.7 Outpatient appointments attendance

Outpatient data has also been broken down by attendance status for those that attended or for those that did not attend (DNA):

The above charts show that:

  • Outpatient attendance rates have seen a gradual improvement and, subsequently, DNA rates have seen a slight decrease
  • There is no significant variation for outpatient attendance between men and women, although men have a higher DNA rate
  • Patients from the least deprived groups have significantly higher attendance rates and - subsequently - patients from the two most deprived groups have significantly higher DNA rates
  • Patients from known ethnic minority groups have significantly higher DNA rates than white patients

1.8 Virtual outpatient appointments

Virtual outpatient appointment data, derived from SUS, has been analysed for the 2024-25 financial year for the registered and resident population within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

The above charts show that:

  • Trends in virtual outpatient appointments saw a gradual increase until 2021-22 but have since seen a small decrease
  • There is no significant variation between men and women
  • The rate of virtual outpatient appointments tend to increase with age
  • Virtual outpatient appointment rates are significantly higher for patients from the two most deprived quintiles, compared to the overall rate, and significantly lower for the least deprived groups
  • The rate of virtual outpatient appointments is significantly higher for patients of white ethnicity compared to the overall rate

1.9 Virtual outpatient appointments attendance

Virtual outpatient data has also been broken down by attendance status, for those that attended or for those that did not attend (DNA):

The above charts show that:

  • Virtual outpatient attendance rates have seen a gradual increase in recent years and - subsequently - DNA rates have seen a decreasing trend
  • There is no significant variation between men and women
  • Patients from the two least deprived groups have significantly higher DNA rates
  • Patients of Asian ethnicity and patients of Other ethnicity have significantly higher DNA rates than the overall rate

1.10 Elective activity vs pre-pandemic levels (U18)

Inpatient elective admission data, derived from SUS, has been analysed since 2018/19 for the registered and resident population within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent aged under 18.

Age specific rates have been calculated to show changes in activity before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note that due to data availability, age-specific rates by ethnicity have been calculated using the 2025 population denominator for all previous years. As a result, trends may not accurately reflect changes in population size over time.

The above charts shows that:

  • Under 18 elective activity is now returning to pre-pandemic levels

  • Under 18 elective admissions have historically been significantly higher for boys than girls, and the rate for boys since the pandemic has been increasing at a slightly higher rate

  • Under 18 elective admissions have historically been significantly higher for the most deprived patients.

  • There has also been a bigger increase in the elective admission rates for under 18 patients from the most deprived group (compared to the least deprived)

  • In 2024/25 the under 18 elective admission rate for the most deprived group was slightly higher than before the pandemic

  • Under 18 elective admission rates amongst Black patients have seen the biggest increase since the pandemic and in 2024/25 the rate was significantly higher than it was in 2018/19.

  • Under 18 patients of Mixed ethnicity and those of Other ethnicity have also seen a significant increase in 2024/25 when compared to 2018/19.


1.11 Elective activity vs pre-pandemic levels (18+)

Inpatient elective admission data, derived from SUS, has been analysed since 2018/19 for the registered and resident population within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent aged 18 and over.

Directly-age standardised rates have been calculated to show changes in activity before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note that due to data availability, age-specific rates by ethnicity have been calculated using the 2025 population denominator for all previous years. As a result, trends may not accurately reflect changes in population size over time.

The above charts shows that:

  • Elective activity (aged 18 and over) is now close to returning to pre-pandemic levels

  • Elective activity (aged 18 and over) has historically been significantly higher for women, and since the pandemic the women have seen a higher rate of increase for elective admissions than men

  • Elective activity tends to increase with age, with admission rates highest amongst those aged 65 and over

  • Since the pandemic, the 80+ age group has seen the biggest increase in elective admission rates

  • Elective activity (aged 18 and over) has historically been significantly higher for the most deprived patients

  • There has also been a bigger increase in the elective admission rates for the most deprived group (compared to the least deprived)

  • In 2024/25 the elective admission rate for the most deprived group was significantly higher than it was in 2018/19

  • Elective admission rates amongst ethnic minority patients have seen the biggest increase since the pandemic

  • In 2024/25 the rate was significantly higher than it was in 2018/19 for all known ethnic minority groups

  • Patients of Mixed ethnicity have seen the biggest increase, whilst patients of White ethnicity have seen the smallest increase compared to pre-pandemic levels.


2 Urgent and emergency care

2.1 Emergency admissions (U18)

Local SUS inpatient data has been analysed for the 2024-25 financial year on emergency admissions for the registered and resident population aged under 18 within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

The above charts show that:

  • Under 18 emergency admissions saw a gradual increase since the pandemic but saw a slight decrease in 2024/25
  • Under 18 emergency admissions are significantly higher for boys when compared to the overall rate and, conversely, are significantly lower for girls
  • Under 18 emergency admission rates are significantly higher for most deprived patients and significantly lower for the least deprived
  • Under 18 emergency admissions are highest for patients of Asian ethnicity. Rates are also significantly high for patients of Mixed ethnicity and patients of White ethnicity compared to the overall under 18 admission rate.

3 Respiratory

3.1 Flu vaccinations

The information presented below is take from the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) Health Inequalities Improvement Dashboard and is based on data sourced from National Immunisation Management Service (NIMS) for the 2024-25 season and data for week ending 28th July 2025.

Flu vaccination uptake by ethnic group and deprivation quintile (Source: HIID, NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP))

The above chart shows that:

  • Across all ethnic groups, flu vaccination rates are higher for the least deprived groups (63% in quintile 5) and lower for the most deprived groups (39% in quintile 1)
  • Across all deprivation groups, flu vaccination rates are higher for the persons of White ethnicity (55%) and of known ethnic groups lowest for Black or Black British patients (27%)
  • Vaccination uptake is highest for persons of White ethnicity and who are in the least deprived group (66%)
  • For known ethnicity, vaccination uptake is lowest for persons of Black or Black British ethnicity in the two most deprived groups (27%), for patients of mixed ethnicity in the most deprived group (27%) and for patients of Other ethnicity in the most deprived group (27%)

Flu vaccination uptake by ethnic group and deprivation quintile (Source: HIID, NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP))

The above chart shows that:

  • Across all ethnic groups, flu vaccination rates are lowest amongst patients aged 20 to 49 years old. Uptake tends to increase with age from 50 years old - with the exception of school-age children - with uptake highest (70%) in the 80+ age group
  • Across all ages, flu vaccination rates are higher for the persons of White ethnicity (55%) and and of known ethnic groups lowest for Black or Black British patients (27%)
  • Vaccination uptake is highest for persons of White ethnicity and aged 80+ (82%)
  • Vaccination uptake is lowest for persons of Other ethnicity and who are in the 20-to-29-year-old age group (9%)

Flu vaccination uptake by ethnic group and deprivation quintile (Source: HIID, NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP))

The above chart shows that:

  • Across all age groups, flu vaccination rates are higher for the least deprived groups and lower amongst the most deprived groups
  • Across all deprivation groups, flu vaccination rates tend to be higher for older age groups and lowest amongst the 20-to-29-year-old age group
  • Vaccination uptake is highest for persons in the oldest age group aged 80+ and in the least deprived group (86%)
  • Vaccination uptake is lowest for persons in the 20-to-29-year-old age group and the most deprived group (16%)

4 Mental Health

4.1 Overall number of SMI physical health checks

The data presented here relates to people with severe mental illness (SMI) who have had physical health checks in a primary and secondary care setting in the 12 months to the end of the reporting period. The denominator is the number of people on the SMI register, and the numerators are the counts of these to have had all of the physical health checks.

Data is broken down by sub-ICB location and the charts below are based on data covering the 2024-25 financial year period.

The above chart shows that the proportion of SMI patients who had all six health checks was significantly higher for the following sub-ICB locations when compared to England:

  • North Staffordshire
  • Stafford and Surrounds
  • Stoke-on-Trent

4.2 Rates of total Mental Health Act detentions

The data below is based on detentions under the Mental Health Act 1983 by ICB. The data is broken down by age group, gender, deprivation and ethnicity for the ICB and presented as crude rates per 100,000 population and is for the 2023/24 reporting period.

The above charts show that:

  • There is no significant variation by gender in the rate of Mental Health Act detentions
  • Mental Health Act detention rates are significantly higher in the 35-49 year old and 65 years and over age groups
  • Mental Health Act detention rates are significantly higher for patients in the most deprived groups and, conversely, are significantly lower for those from the least deprived groups
  • Mental Health Act detention rates are significantly higher for patients of Black ethnicity and patients of mixed ethnicity

4.3 Rates of restrictive interventions

The data below is based on the number of people subject to a restrictive intervention in contact with NHS funded secondary mental health, learning disabilities and autism services. The data is broken down by age group, gender, deprivation and ethnicity for the ICB and presented as crude rates per 100,000 population and is for the 2023/24 reporting period.

The above charts show that:

  • Men appear to have a higher rate of restrictive interventions compared to women
  • Rates of restrictive interventions tend to be higher for patients aged 18 to 39 years old (with the exception of the 85 to 89 age group which is based on a very small sample size)
  • Rates of restrictive interventions tend to be higher for more deprived patients
  • Although data is not available for all ethnic groups; where data is available it appears to show a higher rate of interventions for patients of ethnic minority groups compared to patients of White ethnicity

Note that confidence intervals are not available for these indicators. Some groups will be based on a small sample size, meaning there is an increased risk of variability and uncertainty in these measures. Differences do not necessarily mean there is a significant variation. Caution is advised in interpreting the above charts.

4.4 NHS Talking Therapies recovery

The data below is based on NHS Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT) and is for the recovery rate which is defined as the proportion of people who complete treatment who are moving to recovery. The data is broken down by age group, gender, deprivation and ethnicity for the ICB and is for the 2023/24 reporting period.

The above charts show that:

  • There is no significant variation between the male or female rates
  • Recovery rates are significantly higher for patients in older age groups, and significantly lower for younger patients
  • Recovery rates are significantly higher for patients from the least deprived groups and with significantly lower recovery rates amongst the most deprived
  • There is no significant variation by ethnicity

4.5 Children and young people mental health access

The data below is based on the number children and young people aged under 18 supported through NHS funded mental health with at least one contact. The data is broken down by age group, gender, deprivation and ethnicity for the ICB and is for the 2023/24 reporting period, presented as a crude rate per 100,000 population aged 0-17.

The above charts show that:

  • Rates are similar for boys and girls
  • Rates are highest in the 11 to 15 year old age group and 16 year olds
  • Rates appear to be higher for patients from the most deprived groups, with lower rates amongst the least deprived
  • Patients from ethnic minority groups appear to have lower access rates than patients of white ethnicity

Note that confidence intervals are not available for these indicators. Some groups will be based on a small sample size, meaning there is an increased risk of variability and uncertainty in these measures. Differences do not necessarily mean there is a significant variation. Caution is advised in interpreting the above charts.


5 Cancer

5.1 Percentage of cancers diagnosed at stage 1 and 2

This section details the case-mix adjusted percentage of cancers that are diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 for sixteen cancer types (anus, bladder, bowel, breast, cervix, head and neck, kidney, lung, oesophagus, ovary, pancreas, prostate, renal pelvis and ureter, skin cancer, testes, uterus and other cancers), based on data published by NHS England’s National Disease Registration Service.

National data shows that patients from the most deprived quintile have lower proportion of cancers diagnosed at Stage 1 and 2 (and a higher proportion with later stage diagnosis) compared to other deprivation groups.

While sub-national data is not yet available by deprivation or other demographics, data at the ICB-level enables comparisons to other ICBs and with England to explore health inequalities by geography. Future analytical work by NHS England is planned to make early diagnosis data available at ICB-level by deprivation and ethnicity.

Case-mix adjusted % of cancers diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 for 16 cancer types: 2022
geography_name value confidence_interval_lower confidence_interval_upper sig eng_value eng_ll eng_ul
NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board 55% 54% 56% lower than Eng 57.1 56.9 57.3
Source: National Disease Registration Service, NHS England

The table and charts above show that:

  • The ICB has lower a proportion of cancers diagnosed at stage 1 and stage 2 compared to England for the latest reporting period of 2022
  • Since 2013, the ICB there has been no significant variation in the proportion of cancers diagnosed at stage 1 and stage 2
  • For the 2020 to 2022 period, the ICB has the 15th lowest proportion of cancers diagnosed at stage 1 and stage 2 out of 42 ICBs in England

6 Cardiovascular disease

6.1 Emergency admissions for stroke

Local SUS inpatient data has been analysed for the 2024-25 financial period on emergency admissions for stroke for the registered and resident population within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

The above charts show that:

  • There has been a decrease in emergency admissions for the 2024/25 period compared to previous years
  • Men have a significantly higher rate of emergency admissions for stroke, compared to the overall rate, and rates are significantly lower for women
  • Emergency admissions for stroke increase by age with highest rates in the oldest age groups.
  • Emergency admissions for stroke are significantly higher for persons from the most deprived group, and are significantly lower for those from the least deprived group
  • Emergency admissions are significantly higher for persons of Asian ethnicity, compared to the overall rate.

6.2 Emergency admissions for myocardial infarction

Local SUS inpatient data has been analysed for the 2024-25 financial year on emergency admissions for myocardial infarction for the registered and resident population within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

The above charts show that:

  • There has been a decrease in emergency admissions for the 2024/25 period compared to previous years
  • Men have a significantly higher rate of emergency admissions for myocardial infarction, compared to the overall rate, and rates are significantly lower for women
  • Emergency admissions for myocardial infarction increase by age with highest rates in the oldest age groups.
  • Emergency admissions for myocardial infarction are significantly higher for persons from the two most deprived groups, compared to the overall rate, and are significantly lower for those from least deprived group.
  • Emergency admissions are significantly higher for persons of Asian ethnicity, compared to the overall rate.

6.4 Cholesterol: QRISK 20% of more treated with LLT

The data below is derived from the NHS England’s Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Audit (CVDPREVENT) tool and is based on the percentage of patients aged 18 and over with no GP recorded CVD and a GP recorded QRISK score of 20% or more, on lipid lowering therapy (LLT) (indicator CVDP003CHOL).

The indicator is broken down by sex, aged, deprivation and ethnicity.

The above charts show that:

  • There is no significant variation between men and women, who have a QRISK score of 20% or more, treated with LLT
  • Patients treated with LLT is highest in the 40-59 age group and lowest for patients aged 80+
  • The proportion of patients treated with LLT is significantly higher for patients from the most deprived quintiles compared to those from the least deprived group
  • The proportion of patients treated with LLT is significantly higher for patients of Asian ethnicity compared to patients of White ethnicity

Note that this measure is based on a crude rate and therefore does not adjust for differences in the age structures within each population which can sometimes skew data. Caution is advised in interpreting the above charts.

6.5 Atrial fibrillation: treatment with anticoagulants

The data below is derived from the NHS England’s Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Audit (CVDPREVENT) tool and is based on the percentage of patients aged 18 and over with GP recorded atrial fibrillation (AF) and a record of a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2 or more, who are currently treated with anticoagulation drug therapy (indicator CVDP002AF).

The indicator is broken down by sex, aged, deprivation and ethnicity.

The above charts show that:

  • There is no significant variation between men and women, who have atrial fibrillation and a record of a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2 or more, treated with anticoagulants
  • The proportion of patients treated with anticoagulants is significantly higher for those aged 60 and over compared to younger age groups
  • There is no significant variation by deprivation
  • The proportion of patients treated with anticoagulants is significantly lower for patients of Asian ethnicity and patients of Other ethnicity compared to patients of white ethnicity

Note that this measure is based on a crude rate and therefore does not adjust for differences in the age structures within each population which can sometimes skew data. Caution is advised in interpreting the above charts.


7 Diabetes

7.1 Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes registrations

The data below is based on the National Diabetes Audit (NDA) for the 2024-25 period for by Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB.

Type 1 and Type 2 registrations are broken down by age, sex, deprivation and ethnicity.

The above chart show:

  • The above chart show that the proportion of patients registered with diabetes is higher for men than women for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

  • The proportion of patients registered with Type 1 diabetes is higher amongst patients age under 40, and lower in older age groups.

  • In contrast, the proportion of patients with Type 2 diabetes is lowest amongst those aged under 40 and highest for patients aged 40 to 64 and 65 to 79 years old.

  • The proportion of patients registered with Type 1 diabetes is slightly lower amongst the least deprived patients compared to the most deprived.

  • Similarly, the proportion of patients with Type 2 diabetes is also slightly lower amongst the least deprived patients and is higher for the most deprived patients.

  • The proportion of patients registered with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes is higher for patients of white ethnicity. This reflects the make-up of the ICB population.

  • The proportion of patients registered Type 2 diabetes who are Asian (8%), however, is higher proportionally than the overall Asian population (4.8%) within the ICB.

Note that confidence intervals are not available for these indicators. Some groups will be based on a small sample size, meaning there is an increased risk of variability and uncertainty in these measures. This measure is also based on a crude rate and therefore does not adjust for differences in the age structures within each population which can sometimes skew data. Caution is advised in interpreting the above charts.


8 Oral health

8.1 Hospital admissions for tooth decay

Local SUS inpatient data has been analysed for the 2024-25 financial year on hospital admission for dental caries for the registered and resident population within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent aged under 10 years old.

The above charts show that:

  • The data shows a significant increase in admissions that first occurred in 2022/23. This large increase is also reflected in published data but is likely to be due to changes in coding of source data.
  • Boys have a significantly higher rate of admissions
  • Hospital admissions for dental caries are significantly higher for children who live in the most deprived areas within the ICB when compared to the overall rate. In contrast, admissions are significantly lower for children who are from the least deprived group.
  • Children with an unknown ethnicity have a significantly higher rate of admissions; this may be symptomatic of data quality surrounding the recording of ethnicity.

9 Learning disability and autism

9.1 Learning Disability Annual Health Checks

The data below is based on the learning disabilities health check scheme, which is one of a number of GP enhanced services. It is designed to encourage practices to identify all patients aged 14 and over with learning disabilities, to maintain a learning disabilities ‘health check’ register and offer them an annual health check, which will include producing a health action plan.

Data is broken down by age group (aged 14 to 17, aged 18 and over) for the ICB.

age total ld register completed health checks health checks declined patients not had a health check percent completed
14 to 17 435 344 20 91 79.1%
18+ 5850 4857 344 993 83%
Source: Learning Disabilities Health Check Scheme, England, March 2025, NHS England.

The above chart shows that:

  • In the 14-17 year old age group, the ICB has a similar proportion of completed health checks compared to England
  • For patients aged 18 and over, the ICB has a similar proportion of completed health checks compared to England

9.2 Adult mental health inpatient rates for people with a learning disability and people with autism

The data below is based on the latest monthly statistics on Learning Disabilities and Autism (LDA) patients from the Assuring Transformation (AT) collection and Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS), and shows the adult only learning disabilities inpatient rate for the ICB over the last six months:

The above charts show that:

  • Over the past six months, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB has had a lower inpatient rate for people with a learning disability.

  • As of June 2025, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB had the sixth lowest inpatient rate for people with a learning disability out of the 42 ICBs in England.


10 Maternity and neonatal

The Maternity Services Data Set (MSDS) for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent has been used to provide analysis on pre-term births (premature babies), which are defined as babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

10.1 Preterm births under 37 weeks

The above charts show that:

  • The overall rate of pre-term births within the ICB is increasing
  • There is no significant variation by deprivation, although the rate is highest for the 2nd most deprived group
  • There is no significant variation by ethnicity

Note that the above data is not directly comparable to NHS England’s Maternity Dashboard or other published data due to variations in data definitions.


Appendix

10.2 Definitions and Sources

10.3 Age-standardised rates

Directly standardised rates (DSR) per 100,000 population have been calculated using the European Standard Population 2013. Whilst DSRs may be broadly comparable to other published figures, caution is advised as there are likely to be differences in the underlying numerators and denominators.

DSR measures in this report have primarily been used to assess how rates have changed over time.

Indirectly standardised rates (ISR) per 100,000 population have been calculated using the ICB as the reference population. These represent the ratio of observed to expected events, enabling direct comparison to the overall ICB rate (which is set at 100). Note that these ISRs are specific to the ICB and are not comparable with ISR measures published elsewhere

ISRs measures in this report have primarily been used used to compare different population sub-groups within the ICB during the 2024/25 period.

All age-standardisation and confidence intervals methods have been calculated using the PHEindicatormethods package within R.

Note that ISR and DSR values are not comparable to each other.

10.4 Ethnicity numerators

Numerators for ethnicity have been derived from a combination of SUS and MPI (Spine). The primary source is based on the SUS record at time of admission, but if ethnicity is unknown then the MPI (Spine) record has been used.

10.5 Population denominators

Population denominators by year are based on ONS mid-year estimates. Population denominators by deprivation are based on yearly ONS small area population estimates at Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) and these have been matched to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2019. These are based on the resident population.

Population denominators by ethnicity are based on the Master Patient Index (MPI) Spine table to ensure consistency with how ethnicity is categorised within SUS data. These are based on the registered and resident population.

10.6 Acknowledgments

The design of this report is based on a Quarto NHS theme developed by NHS-R Community