Published On: 17 December 2024Tags:

In response to the Government’s call-out to shape the 10 year plan, Change NHS: Help Build a Health Service Fit for the Future, we submitted recommendations focused on addressing inequalities in health outcomes, delayed diagnoses, and limited access to services faced by Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic communities. To achieve a health service truly fit for the future, it is essential that the needs of these communities are fully considered as the NHS evolves. 

The reality for Britain’s Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic communities

If the NHS is to be fit for purpose in the decades ahead, it must take a hard look at the stark realities faced by the 20% of Britons belonging to Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic groups. These disparities are evident across a range of areas:

Mental Health

People of Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic backgrounds experience higher rates of mental health issues but face disproportionately negative experiences within mental health services. They are more likely to report poor outcomes and encounter higher rates of hospital detention and involuntary care compared to White British groups.

Dementia

Despite a higher risk of developing dementia, people from Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic backgrounds are often diagnosed at a later stage in the development of the disease, leading to shorter survival rates following diagnosis.

Learning Disabilities

Individuals from Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic communities with learning disabilities face a 190% increased risk of earlier death compared to their White counterparts; representing a profound inequity in care and life expectancy.

Maternal Health Outcomes

Black women are three times more likely, and South Asian women twice as likely, to experience maternal mortality compared to White women. Perinatal mortality rates for Asian and Black babies are significantly higher, and these inequalities have shown little improvement in over a decade.

Why Change is Urgent

Despite health inequality duties being enshrined in legislation, the outcomes for Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic communities have not significantly improved. Current policies have failed to address the root causes of these disparities or enforce the necessary systemic changes. Persistent inequalities demand urgent and transformative action to create an NHS that serves everyone equitably.

What We Are Calling For

To address these inequalities, the NHS 10-Year Plan must include comprehensive strategies aimed at improving access to and the provision of services for Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic communities. This includes:

  1. Better Data Collection

    Improved ethnicity recording is essential to identify the specific needs of these communities, uncover barriers to care, and track those at greatest risk of poor outcomes. It’s equally critical to include under-researched groups, such as Eastern European and Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities, to ensure their needs are addressed.

  2. Expanded Services

    More tailored and diverse services are needed. For example, the proportion of Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic individuals with learning disabilities accessing annual health checks is currently far below the NHS Long-Term Plan’s target. Achieving equity requires specific initiatives to close this gap.

  3. Community-Centric and Inclusive Care

    Services must be culturally competent and accessible, with entry routes designed to meet the unique needs of Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic communities. This includes accounting for language and communication barriers, particularly for first-generation migrants.

  4. Addressing Social Determinants of Health

    The 10-Year Health Plan must tackle broader societal factors impacting health outcomes, such as racism, poverty, and family instability, which disproportionately affect minoritised ethnic groups. For instance, these factors contribute significantly to the higher prevalence of mental illness among Black and minoritised ethnic children and young people.

Interested in finding out more? 

Contact jahan@racefound.org.uk or halima@racefound.org.uk