Ethnic health inequalities and the NHS (June 2021)

Summary

People from Black and minority ethnic groups experience inequalities in health outcomes as well as inequalities in access to and experience of health services compared to White groups. 

This report, published by the NHS Race and Health Observatory, argues that the NHS has not made significant progress in reducing ethnic health inequalities in recent years because it has not acted on this issue as a clear priority. There has also been a lack of progress made in ensuring equality of experience and opportunity for the NHS workforce.

Authors go on to argue that there is now an opportunity to address this by taking urgent action to address critical gaps in the NHS’s capabilities to tackle ethnic health inequalities, and by building a broad health inequalities focus into new healthcare structures as a key priority, while supporting NHS staff to drive change.

Read the report in full

Suggested further reading: Health inequalities and safety resources