Lambeth PCT
Profile
Lambeth has 345,000 people registered with 53 general practices / The total BME population is 37.7% compared with 5.9% for England & Wales, with more than 150 languages spoken / Largest ethnic group is Black Caribbean (13.5%) followed by Black African (9.7% ) and Black Other (3.8%) / Newer residents include high proportions of Portuguese and Latin American immigrants.
Our BME population faces big issues…
Smoking prevalence: About 35 per cent of adults smoke in Lambeth, compared with 26 per cent nationally. An equity audit profile showed that fewer black smokers used stop smoking services and, when they did, fewer were likely to quit.
Obesity: National health survey data shows that obesity prevalence is higher among certain ethnic groups including black Caribbean and Pakistani women. Obesity is a risk factor for heart disease and cancer. Both heart disease and cancer are the biggest causes of premature deaths in Lambeth.
Sexual health: Between 1996 and 2003, the prevalence of HIV infection more than doubled in the area. In 2003, more than 25 per cent of Lambeth residents with HIV were black Africans. Between 2002 and 2003, 95 per cent of HIV infections in pregnant women in south-east London were identified before delivery, a particular benefit to the black African community.
Teenage motherhood: Some 35 per cent of teenage mothers are black Caribbean or of Mixed (black Caribbean/white) origin, whereas only 23 per cent of young women aged 14-19 are of these ethnicities.
Tuberculosis: In 2003 more than half those newly diagnosed with TB were black Africans.
Our workforce needs…
Cultural awareness: The trust is offering staff a one-day Cultural Competency course which aims to provide them with a greater understanding of different cultural groups.
BME management and leadership: About 40 per cent of staff are from BME backgrounds, which is broadly representative of the local community. But there is a higher percentage of staff from BME groups in lower pay bands. The majority of middle/senior managers are white. The PCT aims to set targets for improving the representation of non-white staff across all grades within the PCT.
Local recruitment: Drawn more from the local population. The PCT is currently using NHS Jobs as the main recruitment source although job packs are sent to people contacting the PCT directly. The challenge is to improve local recruitment.
Commissioning raises issues…
Awareness of equalities issues: We want to tackle this across all the PCT’s functions, as a commissioner, provider of services and employer. The PCT has a Health Inequalities and Diversity Steering Group, chaired by a Non-Executive Director, which has responsibility for setting strategic direction for health inequalities and diversity across the PCT, to ensure one approach for each of its key roles.
We’re proud of…
Anti-bullying actions: The PCT has trained 10 Bullying and Harassment Support Workers
New thinking: Lambeth’s public health report has developed important assessment of issues of health equity.
Improved priorities: The PCT is starting to implement the choosing of health priorities based on equity considerations.
Next steps…
Training: Mandatory training for all staff is to be introduced which will include training for all in equality and diversity issues.
New work policy framework: The policies, based on respect and dignity at work, will cover Equality and Diversity in Employment, Anti-Bullying and Harassment and a Staff Code of Conduct. The policies will set out clear standards of behaviour which are expected from all staff and will also be supported by a very clear message from the PCT Board and Senior Management Team that all staff must be treated with dignity and respect.
Improved data collection: The PCT expects the Trust to adopt the Department of Health Practical Guide to Ethnic Monitoring to capture information on ethnic group, religion, language and diet.
Programme Lead:
Ruth Wallis, Director of Public Health
0207 716 7124 and ruth.wallis@lambethpct.nhs.uk