Response to Commissioning a Patient Led NHS

Commissioning a Patient Led NHS

Race for Health Consultation Response

RACE EQUALITY COULD BENEFIT FROM COMMISSIONING

PROPOSALS, IF KEY CHANGES MADE

Black and minority ethnic people's health could improve if the Government's proposals 'Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS' embrace key changes put forward by the Race for Health programme.

Evelyn Asante-Mensah OBE*, Chair of Race for Health and of Central Manchester PCT, has today written to Sir Nigel Crisp asking for a meeting to discuss how the health needs of black and minority ethnic communities must drive the health services they receive.

She argues: "Bringing commissioning closer to communities offers a major opportunity to tackle the inequalities in health outcomes experienced by BME communities. But unless specific attention is paid to their needs, real improvement is unlikely."

Race for Health has undertaken an in-depth consultation with all its members and is calling for the Department to:

  • include race equality as an explicit and core component of the Quality Outcomes Framework and all other provider contracts.
  • prioritise guidance, monitoring and enforcement of ethnic monitoring by GPs, including tracking how monitoring data is used to plan services proactively.
  • require PCTs to identify, support and nurture local BME voluntary organisations in order to enable them to fulfil their provider potential.
  • establish a baseline of the current BME profile of Non Executive Directors, ensures this is monitored regularly and report on any adverse impact through the reconfiguration process.
  • think creatively about how to harness the experience of BME clinical staff by rewarding career pathways up to and beyond retirement.
  • publish a review of progress against Sir Nigel Crisp's Leadership and Race Equality Action Plan. Race for Health suggests the Department initiate a round-table discussion with other professional bodies on how to improve the health outcomes of BME communities.

Professor Helen Hally, National Director of the Race for Health programme, adds: "Through the Race for Health programme significant momentum has been built up around making a real step change in the way we deliver health services to BME communities. Our proposals are designed to minimise the very real risk of losing momentum as a result of the organisational change the government's plans will initiate."

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Note to editors:

Contact: for media queries, please contact Jessica Morris on 07956 116 272. All other queries should be directed to Anurita Mulchand, 0161 958 4081.

1. Race for Health is sponsored by Central Manchester PCT and the Department of Health. It centres on the belief that PCTs are best able to make significant progress in this area by working with each other, supported by key materials and activities to facilitate learning.

The 13 PCTs in the programme are committed to delivering measurable improvements in the health outcomes of black and minority ethnic people.

Through community engagement and leadership, the PCTs aim to make significant improvements in delivering race equality in:

  • the workforce, from recruitment to retention and promotion, tackling 'snow-capping'
  • commissioning, including the planning, designing and buying-in of services and products
  • service improvements, making significant progress in tacking the real inequalities in the access, experience and health outcomes experienced by black and minority ethnic people.

2. Evelyn Asante-Mensah was awarded an OBE in the 2006 New Year's Honours. She is Chief Executive of the Black Health Agency, Chair of Central Manchester PCT and Chair of the Race for Health programme. She is also a Commissioner with the Equal Opportunities Commission. In February 2006 she will be working on secondment to the Government Office North West, as the Strategic Advisor for Community Cohesion and Diversity.