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Found 215 results
  1. Content Article
    Racism and other forms of discrimination not only affect people receiving care, but also many midwifery and nursing professionals who provide it. Everyone deserves to receive equitable, culturally safe, anti-racist, unbiased care. Students and nursing and midwifery professionals deserve to learn and work in psychologically safe environments where discriminatory behaviours and biases are called out, challenged, and not tolerated. Anti-racism is fundamental to patient safety and public protection. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) anti-racism principles set out some of the ways educators, organisations, registrants and employers can address concerns around inequities in care and racism across health and social care practice, education, and regulation. The principles are designed to: Strengthen cultural safety, curiosity and respect in practice and education Explicitly advance meaningful, sustained anti-racist, bias-aware practice. The principles are organised around four areas. Culture, equity and inclusion. Learning, education and workforce development. Community and person-centred practice. Assurance, accountability and sector improvement.
  2. Content Article
    C-sections are a common procedure in maternity care, but higher rates of emergency caesareans can be a sign of systemic issues. In this article the authors analyse a chart presenting Health Episode Statistic (HES) 2023/24 data to explore the intersection of ethnicity and socio-economic deprivation in shaping the likelihood of emergency C-sections in England. They found that there were higher rates of emergency C-sections among women and people giving birth from Black and Asian ethnic groups than from the White group, regardless of deprivation quantile. This data adds to a growing body of evidence that maternal health outcomes in the UK are not equal. 
  3. Event
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    The latest NHS staff survey highlighted an unacceptable reality. One in five Black and minority ethnic staff are subject to racism from patients and 14% experience similar harassment from colleagues. From verbal attacks by patients, to incidents on the journey to and from work, many staff from ethnic minority backgrounds are navigating environments that simply don’t feel safe. This has real consequences on wellbeing, retention and whether people feel able to fully show up at work. Leaders and managers are often left holding difficult questions: What does meaningful support look like when harm is ongoing, not isolated? Why do current responses, even when well-intentioned, fall short? What does it take to create safety when parts of the system feel unsafe? This free online lunch and learn will be a space to reflect honestly on the impact of racist abuse and focus on what leaders can do differently. It will explore how leaders can offer protection, respond with clarity and build conditions to help staff feel safer and more supported. Join if you want to: strengthen your response to racist abuse in real situations move beyond policy into practical leadership understand what meaningful support looks like from a staff perspective lead in ways that actively contribute to safety, not just intention. There will be time at the end for a Q&A session. We hope to see you there. Register
  4. News Article
    Thousands of cancer patients from minority ethnic backgrounds will have access to “groundbreaking” genetic testing on the NHS that previously discriminated against them. This routine form of genetic testing, used before chemotherapy treatment, could save the lives of Black and minority ethnic cancer patients who already face poorer health outcomes after diagnosis compared with their white counterparts. Before undergoing chemotherapy, cancer patients across England undergo genetic testing that can lead to changes in treatments to reduce the adverse side-effects chemotherapy can have, including mouth sores, hair loss, nausea and fatigue, and which can also be fatal. Up to 40% of the 38,000 patients treated with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy in England will develop an adverse drug reaction to the treatment. Until last year, these genetic tests only looked for four types of DPYD gene variants, which are mainly found within the DNA of people from white European backgrounds. Consequently, this genetic testing was less effective on Black cancer patients, leading them to be more likely to experience severe side-effects including death after chemotherapy. These genetic tests are now being offered by the NHS across England to include testing for a fifth DPYD genomic variant, which is more prevalent among people from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds. Dr Veline L’Esperance, the senior clinical adviser at the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said that the introduction of these new genetic tests represents “tangible results for patients who have historically been left behind”. “Patients of African ancestry deserve the same standard of safety as everyone else, and now clinicians have the means to deliver it,” L’Esperance said. “What makes this significant is that it moves the conversation about ethnic health inequality in cancer care from words to action. This is the first concrete, clinical response to the evidence that Black and ethnic minority patients were being failed by tests designed around white European genetics.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 13 April 2026
  5. News Article
    Ambulance chiefs have been urged to take greater efforts to ensure their workforce is more diverse by NHS Alliance chair Lord Victor Adebowale. Lord Adebowale told the Ambulance Leadership Forum that it was “weird” to be in an environment which was so predominantly white. The NHS Alliance is the body formed by the union between NHS Providers and the NHS Confederation. Its chair told the annual forum of ambulance chiefs: “I can’t believe how white you are”, noting most of the other meetings he went to had at least 5 per cent non-white participants. He praised the work ambulance trusts had been doing to improve the treatment of LGBT+ and neurodiverse staff but added the sector had a “problem” with racial diversity. Lord Adebowale said: “It is not sustainable, it’s not credible. So whatever you are doing it is not working fast enough.” Rates of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff in ambulance trusts are lower than in other parts of the NHS. In part, this reflects a paramedic population that is predominately white, with overseas recruitment tending to focus on countries like Australia which have similar training. There is only one BAME CEO in the sector – North West Ambulance Service’s Salman Desai – and a sprinkling of executive directors. None of the 10 English ambulance trusts are led by a woman. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 23 March 2026
  6. Content Article
    A new report, jointly produced by charities Cysters and Endometriosis UK, sheds light on the biases and inequalities faced by endometriosis patients from ethnically diverse communities. The report reveals that patients from these communities are waiting more than 16% (1 year and 8 months) longer than the UK average waiting time for an endometriosis diagnosis time. The report draws on findings from more than 500 people from ethnically diverse communities living with endometriosis, as well as ten supplementary interviews. Findings: People from ethnically diverse communities wait, on average, 11 years for an endometriosis diagnosis in the UK. This is compared to the UK-wide average diagnosis time of 9 years and 4 months. Patients from ethnically diverse backgrounds wait more than twice as long (4 years) between seeing a gynaecologist and being diagnosed with endometriosis as the UK-wide average (1 year and 10 months). This is despite going to their GP sooner after first noticing symptoms, and waiting less time to see a gynaecologist. More than two thirds (68%) believed their ethnicity either played a role in their diagnosis, proved a barrier to diagnosis, or was the subject of assumptions made by healthcare practitioners. Just 11% believed healthcare providers are culturally sensitive.
  7. Content Article
    Independent investigations into failings in NHS maternity services have repeatedly exposed serious shortcomings in safety, quality, and organisational culture. These reviews were intended to generate learning and drive improvements, but with so many issues linked to racial and socioeconomic inequities, failure to build this into inquiries risks perpetuating avoidable harm. The NHS Race & Health Observatory conducted a document analysis of the three major independent investigations published over the past 15 years: Morecambe Bay, Shrewsbury & Telford, and East Kent. These high-profile, government commissioned reports were examined through an intersectional, antiracist lens to assess whether ethnicity, racism, and deprivation were meaningfully considered as drivers of maternal outcomes. Findings Patients’ ethnicity Across all three investigations, ethnicity was inconsistently addressed and often minimised. The Shrewsbury & Telford report acknowledged national disparities but failed to analyse local data, with nearly 9,300 missing ethnicity records. The East Kent and Morecambe Bay reports briefly noted poor treatment of ethnic minority women and to those born overseas but did not investigate systemic discrimination. In Morecambe Bay, concerns raised by families of ethnic minority patients were dismissed without comparative analysis. The limited attention to ethnicity undermines the relevance of recommendations for ethnic minority women. Workplace racism and staff experiences Workplace culture was a recurring theme, yet only the East Kent report explicitly identified racism among staff as a contributing factor to poor care. Allegations of racial abuse were often dismissed without resolution. In contrast, the Shrewsbury & Telford and Morecambe Bay reports described negative cultures but did not consider ethnicity as a source of conflict or harm. This reflects a broader failure to recognise racism within NHS workplaces and its impact on patient safety. Deprivation and maternal outcomes The Morecambe Bay and Shrewsbury & Telford reports acknowledged deprivation using national data but did not analyse its local impact. The East Kent report overlooked deprivation entirely. None of the investigations examined how deprivation intersects with ethnicity to worsen outcomes, despite evidence that economically disadvantaged ethnic minority women face compounded risks. Leadership failures Leadership failures—including poor oversight, defensive cultures, and high turnover—were common across all three reports. However, none explored whether racial discrimination contributed to leadership breakdowns or staff tensions. This omission reflects a reluctance to confront structural racism within NHS governance.
  8. News Article
    Progress has been made in reducing the “collective shame” of disproportionate employer referrals of doctors from ethnic minority backgrounds or who qualified outside the UK, the doctors’ regulator says. The General Medical Council says the proportion of employers with excess referrals in relation to a doctor’s ethnicity or place of qualification has now reduced by 48%—from 5.6% between 2016 and 2020 to 2.9% from 2020 to 2024. The difference in employer referral rates between ethnic minority and white doctors has also fallen by 61%—from 0.28% (0.58% ethnic minority doctors v 0.3% white doctors) to 0.11% (0.26% v 0.15%). For non-UK versus UK graduates, the difference in referral rates has dropped by 69%—from 0.42% (0.28% UK v 0.7% non-UK) to 0.13% (0.15% v 0.28%). The regulator says it is now on track to hit its target of eliminating disproportionate employer fitness to practise referrals by the end of 2026, a goal it set in 2021. Progress on eliminating discrimination in medical schools and training by 2031 has been much slower, however. Speaking to The BMJ, GMC chief executive Charlie Massey said, “Inequality and discrimination are pernicious and we should be ashamed collectively about the level of disadvantage that doctors from particular backgrounds face in the NHS.” He said, however, that the progress made so far is “pretty significant” and shows change is possible. “I don’t think any of us should be complacent. There’s still further distance to travel and we mustn’t let up now,” he said. Read full story Source: BMJ, 15 January 2026
  9. News Article
    NHS staff who care for patients in their own homes fear some areas have become “no-go zones” for them because of the presence of St George’s flags, health leaders have said. Black and Asian staff have been left feeling “deliberately intimidated” as a result of the flags that were put up in many parts of England during the summer, according to the chief executive of one NHS trust in England, who asked to remain anonymous. “We saw during the time the flags went up, our staff, who are a large minority of black and Asian staff, feeling deliberately intimidated,” he said. “It felt like the flags were creating no-go zones. That’s what it felt like to them. You add on top of that real autonomous working, that real bravery of working in people’s homes, with an environment … [where] it feels like it’s an area that’s designed to exclude them.” He said his staff had felt intimidated, “and, if I’m honest, in many cases I think that’s what it was designed to feel like”, he added. The Royal College of Nursing said the fear created by the flags was part of an alarming wider picture. Prof Nicola Ranger, the union’s general secretary, said: “A sustained campaign of anti-migrant rhetoric is fuelling a growing cesspool of racism, including against international and ethnic minority nursing staff, without whom our health and care system would simply cease to function. “Those working in the community feel especially vulnerable and employers have a duty to ensure they are protected. “Following a summer of further racist disorder, it is little wonder a growing number of nursing staff report feeling unsafe, particularly when having to work on their own and often at night. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 11 November 2025
  10. Content Article
    Health disparities are systemic and deeply rooted in social and economic inequities. Patients living in deprived areas, from racially minoritised communities, or facing additional challenges such as homelessness or intellectual disabilities experience worse health outcomes. These disparities are compounded by mistrust in healthcare, low health literacy, cultural barriers, and discrimination.  This report focuses on patients with blood disorders and/or cancers who experience health inequalities, and therefore have worse outcomes and experiences of care than patients who don’t. We looked at how social and economic factors affect the health of people living with blood disorders and cancer.  Report key findings: Patients living with cancer and/or blood disorders experience significant barriers to care including delays in diagnosis, unequal access to services, and systemic discrimination, These patients also reported challenges navigating healthcare, a lack of communication, and economic burdens such as high transportation and medication costs, Social determinants of health like inadequate housing and living in deprived areas further worsened outcomes, Participants emphasised mistrust in the healthcare system, particularly among racially minoritised and LGBTQ+ communities, and highlighted the need for better coordination, cultural sensitivity training, and localised services. The project involved a literature review on health disparities and social determinants affecting patients with cancer and blood disorders. Discussions were held with local and condition-specific charities, and we conducted focus groups and a case study interview with patients and carers. These efforts aimed to gather diverse perspectives and first-hand accounts of lived experiences.
  11. Content Article
    Black and minority ethnic patients with high blood pressure have benefited from a project which was run by two Lambeth GP practices. The project aimed to reduce the very significant difference in blood pressure control (hypertension) between Black and minority ethnic patients and white patients. The year-long project resulted in the two practices achieving some of the best outcomes ever seen in South East London for overall hypertension control, with a 12% inequality gap for blood pressure control between black and white patients completely eradicated. In addition, over 300 patients from the local community were newly diagnosed with hypertension.
  12. Content Article
    This review by the UCL Institute of Health Equity (IHE) concludes that racism damages health and wellbeing and drives inequalities in London.  Racism in the capital is widespread and persistent causing damage to individuals, communities and society as a whole. Its impacts are experienced in different ways and to varying levels of intensity related to individual experiences, socioeconomic position and other dimensions of exclusion such as disability, age and gender. The intersections with other dimensions of exclusion can amplify the effects of racism. The focus of this review is on the effects of racism on health and its contribution to avoidable inequalities in health between ethnic groups – a particularly unacceptable form of health inequity. It is urgent that society tackle the damage to health and wellbeing as a result of racism. The review is part of a series of evidence reviews funded by the Greater London Authority (GLA) to build the evidence for reducing health inequalities in London through action on specific social determinants of health. The other three reviews cover housing, the cost of living and adult skills.
  13. News Article
    eople from black ethnic backgrounds are being encouraged to take part in a research programme aimed at tackling health inequalities. The Improving Black Health Outcomes (IBHO) BioResource programme at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) will explore how African-Caribbean communities develop and experience different health conditions. Those taking part would be tested and matched with various research programmes into conditions including sickle cell, diabetes, heart and kidney disease. David Stockley, NIHR BioResource Southampton Manager at UHS, said the volunteers would be playing a "vital role" in developing future healthcare provision. UHS said the study was set up as historically, people from African and Caribbean heritage have been under-represented in health studies, meaning knowledge and treatments as a result of research have been predominantly based on white populations. Mr Stockley said the new initiative aimed to "close the gap". "The IBHO BioResource will help us better understand and address health conditions and their unique impacts on black people and their loved ones, ensuring everyone benefits from fair and inclusive research," he added. Read full story Source: BBC News, 20 March 2025
  14. News Article
    Getting tested for prostate cancer should’ve been easy for Paul Campbell. He wanted a check-up after seeing an advert on TV calling for men in their 40s to get thorough health checks. He asked his GP but was immediately questioned about why he – a man who seemed otherwise healthy – would want a check-up. “I had to fight my ground, I had to raise my voice. And eventually, I got the test,” Mr Campbell told The Independent. He was later diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. “Had I not been assertive and pushy, by the time I found out, it would have been stage 4.” Mr Campbell is far from being alone in his experience. New research from the NHS Race and Health Observatory found “alarming levels” of discrimination towards patients from ethnic minorities and huge levels of mistrust in the NHS system. The survey of 2,680 people found only 55% trusted primary care to meet their health needs most or all of the time, while a third of south Asian participants said they either rarely or never trusted primary care to meet their health needs. On Friday, the NHS Race and Health Observatory roundtable brought together 20 key partners from local communities, the volunteer sector, the government and broader NHS to discuss the findings. Professor Habib Naqvi, chief executive, NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: “We cannot have a two-tier NHS based upon patient ethnicity, background or circumstances. This report reflects the clear need to bring speed and urgency to reform the NHS, so that patients do not face discrimination and systemic barriers when seeking healthcare.” These issues have a real impact on health outcomes. Read full story Source: The Independent, 9 March 2025
  15. Event
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    DeNPRU Exeter is a Policy Research Unit in Dementia and Neurodegeneration based at the University of Exeter. This webinar will share learning from DeNPRU Exeter's policy research project on reducing inequalities for minority ethnic communities living with dementia, Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease or Huntington's disease. The United Kingdom is composed of diverse range of ethnic and cultural groups. However, people from minority ethnic communities living with dementia or other neurodegenerative conditions often face significant inequalities in accessing healthcare. This can result in delayed diagnoses, poorer health outcomes and a reduced quality of life. This project has: identified and examined community campaigns aimed at raising awareness and/or reducing stigma around neurodegenerative conditions in minority ethnic populations. reviewed existing research on the barriers and facilitators influencing access to care and support for people from minority ethnic communities. learned from people with lived or professional experience about raising awareness of neurodegenerative conditions and addressing barriers to accessing services. Join the DeNPRU Exeter Reducing Ethnic Inequalities Project Team to hear about the findings. Deputy Director of DeNPRU, Professor Jan Oyebode Research Fellow, Dr Maria Caulfield There will be a chance to ask questions of the speakers. Register for the webinar
  16. Content Article
    How can we ensure that health and care staff from all backgrounds feel respected, valued and listened to at work? Siva Anandaciva sits down with Karen Bonner, Chief Nurse at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, to talk about the value of having a diverse workforce, and how we can make the health and care system fairer for staff, patients, and communities from ethnic minority groups.
  17. Content Article
    Evidence suggests that maternal mortality has been increasing in the US. Comprehensive estimates do not exist. Long-term trends in maternal mortality ratios (MMRs) for all states by racial and ethnic groups were estimated. The objective of this study was to quantify trends in MMRs (maternal deaths per 100 000 live births) by state for five mutually exclusive racial and ethnic groups using a bayesian extension of the generalised linear model network. The study found that while maternal mortality remains unacceptably high among all racial and ethnic groups in the US, American Indian and Alaska Native and Black individuals are at increased risk, particularly in several states where these inequities had not been previously highlighted. Median state MMRs for the American Indian and Alaska Native and Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander populations continue to increase, even after the adoption of a pregnancy checkbox on death certificates. Median state MMR for the Black population remains the highest in the US. Comprehensive mortality surveillance for all states via vital registration identifies states and racial and ethnic groups with the greatest potential to improve maternal mortality. Maternal mortality persists as a source of worsening disparities in many US states and prevention efforts during this study period appear to have had a limited impact in addressing this health crisis.
  18. Content Article
    Race and ethnicity have been associated with poor pregnancy outcomes in many countries. In the UK, the rates of baby death and stillbirth among Black and Asian mothers are double those for White women. Most studies examine trends for individual countries. This large database study explored how race and ethnicity is linked to pregnancy outcomes in wealthy countries. Key findings Black women consistently had worse outcomes than White women across the globe.  Hispanic women were three times more likely to experience baby death compared with White women.  South Asian women had an increased risk of early birth and having a baby with an unexpectedly low weight (small for the length of pregnancy) compared with White women.  Racial disparities in some outcomes were found in all regions. The researchers call for a global, joined-up approach to tackling disparities. Breaking down barriers to care for ethnic minorities, particularly Black women, could help. More research is needed to understand why outcomes are for worse for ethnic minorities. The researchers recommend routine collection of data on race and ethnicity. The link below takes you to the Plain English summary of the research, you can also view the full research study.
  19. Content Article
    Medical defence organisation MDDUS's latest annual member attitude survey has found that many have experienced or witnessed persistent racist microaggressions at work. Almost two-thirds of International Medical Graduate members report they’ve been subject to racist microaggressions and have little faith in being heard and the issue being taken seriously. MDDU's 'We hear you' campaign aims to be a catalyst for positive change and help rebuild confidence in the way such abuses can be reported.
  20. Content Article
    An independent review from the NHS Race & Health Observatory of services provided by NHS Talking Therapies has identified that psychotherapy services need better tailoring to meet the needs of Black and minoritised ethnic groups. Ten years of anonymised patient data found that historically, people from Black and minoritised ethnic backgrounds have experienced poorer access to, and outcomes from, NHS talking therapies. Over this time period, compared to White British groups, they are less likely to access services, tend to wait longer for assessment and to access treatments. The data also showed that poor outcomes were faced by people from South Asian communities, in particular Bangladeshi groups. People of mixed ethnicity, mostly White and Black Caribbean, are the least likely to access these services. The comprehensive assessment review was undertaken in partnership with the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH). It noted poor outcomes can be tackled and even disappear when access is improved, and culturally sensitive therapy is provided. People from Black African backgrounds using IAPT services were sometimes more likely to improve and recover in comparison with White British people. It calls on commissioners, clinicians, and healthcare organisations to address ethnic health inequalities. This can be done by improving resources and training to enhance understanding of mental health inequality, and by recruiting culturally sensitive and ethnically diverse therapists.
  21. Content Article
    Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is a life-saving procedure for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS), which relieves symptoms, increases life expectancy and improves quality of life. Little is known about the rate of AVR provision by gender, race or social deprivation level in the NHS across England. However, a large analysis examining AVR on the health service in England – the first of its kind – reveals striking inequalities in its provision. Women, black and Asian people, and those living in the poorest parts of the country are much less likely to receive the life-saving procedure, the study shows. “In this large, national dataset, female gender, black or south Asian ethnicities and high deprivation were associated with significantly reduced odds of receiving AVR in England,” the authors wrote. Dr Clare Appleby, a consultant cardiologist at the Liverpool Heart and Chest hospital NHS foundation trust and an author of the study, said public health initiatives to understand and tackle these inequalities should be prioritised. “Severe symptomatic aortic stenosis is a serious disease that causes mortality and reduces quality of life for patients,” she said. “Left untreated it has a worse prognosis than many common metastatic cancers, with average survival being 50% at two years, and around 20% at five years.” Further research and public health initiatives to understand and address inequalities in the timely provision of AVR are important and should be prioritised in England.
  22. Content Article
    In April 2023, National Voices held a workshop with members, supported by The Disrupt Foundation, on the unequal impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It explored how communities and groups were affected differently by both the virus itself and the measures brought in to control it.   It painted a grim picture of the ways in which the pandemic response exacerbated existing, deep-rooted inequalities across the UK and compounded the disadvantages experienced by people from minoritised communities, by disabled people and by people living with long term conditions.  Just some examples include people who are immunocompromised, who were asked to go into isolation for huge periods of time and still feel completely overlooked as control measures have been lifted. Or the use of DNRs (Do Not Resuscitate orders) which were disproportionately applied to people with learning disabilities.  With the Covid-19 Inquiry underway, it is imperative that we capture the lessons learnt from the pandemic, and use them to suggest action for the future.
  23. Content Article
    The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) provides the most comprehensive and up to date national profile of ethnic inequalities in mortality overall and from common physical conditions. It shows a complex picture of ethnic inequalities in mortality in England, with differences between people from ethnic minority and the White British groups, between different ethnic minority groups, and across different health conditions. This King's Fund blog looks at the complex interplay of factors drives ethnic differences in health.
  24. News Article
    Black babies in England are almost three times more likely to die than white babies after death rates surged in the last year, according to figures that have led to warnings that racism, poverty and pressure on the NHS must be tackled to prevent future fatalities. The death rate for white infants has stayed steady at about three per 1,000 live births since 2020, but for black and black British babies it has risen from just under six to almost nine per 1,000, according to figures from the National Child Mortality Database, which gathers standardised data on the circumstances of children’s deaths. Infant death rates in the poorest neighbourhood rose to double those in the richest areas, where death rates fell. The mortality for Asian and Asian British babies also rose, by 17%. The annual data shows overall child mortality increased again between 2022 and 2023, with widening inequalities between rich and poor areas and white and black communities. Most deaths of infants under one year of age were due to premature births. Karen Luyt, the programme lead for the database and a professor of neonatal medicine at Bristol University, said many black and minority ethnic women were not registering their pregnancies early enough and the “system needs to reach them in a better way”. “There’s an element of racism and there’s a language barrier,” Luyt said. “Minority women often do not feel welcome. There’s cultural incompetence and our clinical teams do not have the skills to understand different cultures.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 9 November 2023
  25. News Article
    Black, Asian and minority ethnic people experience longer waiting times, and are less likely to be in recovery after treatment, when accessing NHS mental health services compared with their white counterparts, a report has found. The research looked at 10 years’ worth of anonymised patient data from NHS Talking Therapies, formerly known as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies – an NHS programme that launched in 2008 to improve patient access to NHS mental health services. A total of 1.2 million people accessed NHS Talking Therapies services in 2021-22, and by 2024 the programme aims to help 1.9 million people in England with anxiety or depression to access treatment. The report, Ethnic Inequalities in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, commissioned by the NHS Race and Health Observatory and undertaken by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, found that people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds were less likely to go on to have at least one treatment session, despite having been referred by their GP, than their white counterparts. Dr Lade Smith, the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “For far too long we have known that people from minoritised ethnic groups don’t get the mental healthcare they need. This review confirms, despite some improvements, it remains that access, experience and outcomes of talking therapies absolutely must get better, especially for Bangladeshi people. “There is progress, particularly for people from black African backgrounds, if they can get into therapy, but getting therapy in the first place continues to be difficult. This review provides clear recommendations about how to build on the improvements seen. I hope that decision-makers, system leaders and practitioners will act on these findings.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 1 November 2023

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