NHS leaders tackle race equality in health at London summit
Written by admin on Friday, October 16, 2009 14:15
UPDATE: Press download now available
Leading Action on Race Equality and Health Guide download (2.2 MB, PDF)
NHS leaders meet in London today (19 October) for a summit to discuss ways to improve race equality in health.
Cynthia Bower, Chief Executive of the new Care Quality Commission (the NHS regulator) is keynote speaker at the Race for Health summit, attended by Chief Executives and Chairs of leading NHS trusts, PCTs and Strategic Health Authorities. It will focus on how, for example, to reduce the incidence of conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers which disproportionately affect some black and minority ethnic (BME) communities.
Coinciding with the Summit, Race for Health today publishes a new guide entitled ‘Leading Action on Race Equality in Health’. The 44-page guide distils the legislative, policy and regulatory imperatives for taking action on race equality and sets out good practice from, among others, the 21 Primary Care Trusts that are members of the programme.
In the guide, Cynthia Bower, Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission, says:
‘The NHS has a legal responsibility to promote race equality and tackle discrimination, both as an employer and as a provider or commissioner of health services. Even so, studies continue to show that people from minority ethnic groups have more difficulty accessing healthcare, and, when they do, the experience and the outcomes for them are not as good as for other people.’
Ms Bower adds that BME communities may be at a particular disadvantage in ‘having a real say’ about the healthcare and social care they need. She says that the Care Quality Commission, when monitoring NHS performance, will be encouraging trusts to tackle such inequalities.
‘New approaches to meeting the needs of people from ethnic minorities – aimed at giving them a much better experience of healthcare and improved outcomes – will definitely be a major focus for us.’
Anne Watts, Chair of the Appointments Commission, which oversees appointments of Chairs and non-executive directors to the health service, urges greater representation of BME communities in the higher levels of the NHS. She says:
‘Less headline-worthy, but equally important is the need for a balanced and diverse mix of skills on all Boards…..I am heartened by the diversity in skills and experience of some of our recent appointments and I would encourage Chairs to consider carefully what further diversity can be achieved when the opportunity for a new appointment arises.’
Professor Helen Hally, National Director of Race for Health, said:
‘We are very encouraged by the action that David Nicholson has taken in setting up the Department of Health’s new Equality and Diversity Council, which is offering clear and strong leadership to improve the lives of millions of people in this country.’
Notes for Editors:
1.Some BME communities experience disadvantage in health outcomes. For example, men and women of Indian origin are three times more likely than most people to have diabetes, 50 per cent more likely to die prematurely from coronary heart disease and 70 per cent more likely to suffer strokes.
2.PDFs of Race for Health’s ‘Leading Action on Race Equality’ Guide can be obtained from www.raceforhealth.org
3.Race for Health is funded by the Department of Health and hosted by Liverpool PCT. The programme is designed to support and challenge NHS organisations to find new and effective ways of improving the health experience and outcomes of people from black and minority ethnic communities.
4.The Leading Action on Race Equality Summit takes place on Monday 19 October 3.00pm to 7.00pm at the Dali Universe, County Hall Gallery, County Hall, Riverside Building, London SE1 7PB.
Further Information:
Contact Jack O’Sullivan, Communications, Race for Health
jack@think-osullivan.com
07779 655585
Comments (0)
No comments have been made, be the first to comment!