SPIRALLING levels of poverty across Barnsley has been blamed for a rise in scabies diagnoses, medics believe.
NHS figures obtained by the Chronicle show 25 patients were given a primary or secondary diagnosis of scabies after visiting Barnsley Hospital’s accident and emergency department in the year to March.
This was a rise from 15 a year earlier - a hike of 66 per cent.
Scabies - a rash caused by tiny mites which burrow into the skin - can be extremely itchy.
Gwen Nightingale, assistant director at the Health Foundation, said poverty may impact the spread of the disease.
“Not having enough income to sustain a basic standard of living can have a negative impact on health through factors like cold, damp homes or an inability to access healthy foods.
“The stress of living on a low income can also negatively impact health.
“The government has a choice as to whether it wants to perpetuate the current numbers of families living in poverty.”
