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NHS Confederation - Decisive action needed to tackle Covid-19 impact on BME people
Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, responded to the PHE report COVID-19: understanding the impact on BAME communities
“This report provides further evidence of the disproportionate impact the virus is having on people from BME communities. There are several reasons behind this as well as much we still do not know, but that must not detract from the need for decisive action.
“In particular, we have been calling for better data collection and for ethnicity data to be recorded on death certificates and so we are glad to see these recommendations being put to the Equalities Minister.
“Our members take this issue very seriously. They have seen the effect the virus has had, and continues to have, on both their staff and patients.
“Through our NHS Employers arm, we have issued guidance for all NHS organisations on how to enhance their existing risk assessments particularly for at-risk and vulnerable groups within their workforce. And we will update this as further evidence comes to light
“As we emerge from the pandemic there is a high likelihood that these inequalities will worsen and everything possible must be done to address both the immediate and longer term issues.
“The pandemic has led to a monumental backlog of screening activity, referrals, and scheduled operations, which again are likely to hit the most disadvantaged hardest.
“The report also rightly recognises the critical role NHS organisations can play as major local institutions in tackling racial inequalities. Our members are clear there is work to do here across the health service, both to support staff more effectively and to reach out to communities to shape the services we offer and to engage patients in their care.
“We will be hosting the NHS Race and Health Observatory, and I am confident it will wish to champion and lead the charge for a deeper understanding of these issues which the report calls for, including greater use of community participatory research, as well as finding ways to tackle the specific health challenges facing people from BME backgrounds.”
