2nd December – The London Anti-Racism Collaboration for Health (LARCH) initiative, funded by the London Health and Care Partnership, is championing racial equity across the NHS and the broader health and care sector. Led by The Race Equality Foundation and the Health Innovation Network South London, LARCH have launched the Race Equity Maturity Index (REMI), a pioneering tool aimed at addressing systemic health inequalities and driving impactful change with the support of the NHS and other health and care bodies in London. As the first initiative of its kind in London, REMI sets a new global benchmark for tackling racial inequalities in health and care organisations.
The Challenge: Structural Racism and Health Inequalities
London is the UK’s most ethnically diverse city, and this diversity is reflected in the NHS, with at least one-third of staff coming from Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic communities. Yet, these groups face persistent inequalities in both employment opportunities and health outcomes, adding to the strain on London’s stretched health and care system.
Structural racism exacerbates these challenges, as highlighted in the Institute for Health Equity’s report Structural Racism, Ethnicity and Health Inequalities in London and Lord Darzi’s recent NHS review.
Key barriers identified among Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic Londoners include:
- Inadequate treatment for specific health conditions.
- Substandard, euro-centric perceptions of care.
- Limited access to interpreting services, impacting non-English speakers.
- Delayed treatment due to fears of racism.
Ongoing efforts to address these disparities have often been hampered by a lack of good-quality evidence about the effectiveness of anti-racist interventions and robust accountability measures, perpetuating harm and eroding trust in healthcare.
Overcoming ‘Wokery’ and Building Credibility
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives within the NHS face significant criticism in the public sphere, with negative perceptions fueled by a dismissive media narrative. Research from the Health Innovation Network South London revealed that of 19,000 online mentions of the NHS linked to terms like “diversity” or “anti-racism” over the past year, fewer than 2% carried a positive sentiment. Critics often view these programmes as ineffective or ideologically driven.
However, public opinion surveys reveal broader societal support for EDI initiatives, especially when their tangible impacts, such as improved health outcomes and cost efficiencies are demonstrated. By tying EDI efforts to measurable KPIs like lives saved, reductions in waiting times, and operational efficiencies, initiatives like REMI can build credibility and momentum within the health and care system.
Driving Change with REMI
REMI is a groundbreaking, evidence-based tool developed in consultation with London’s diverse communities and NHS staff. Designed to complement existing EDI efforts, it provides a clear, staged framework for organisations to assess, measure, and improve their race equity practices.
Key features of REMI include:
- A structured progression system with measurable indicators at each stage.
- A focus on embedding race equity into strategic planning and goal-setting.
- Collaboration with service users to ensure practical and meaningful outcomes.
As Assistant Director of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at South East London Integrated Care System, Wasia Shahain who also played a role in the piloting of REMI, highlights its potential to create lasting change:
“REMI aligns with our mission to serve one of the UK’s most ethnically diverse populations. It provides the clarity and structure needed to identify gaps, track progress, and hold ourselves accountable to our communities. This isn’t just about compliance, it’s about driving measurable improvements in health equity.”
REMI represents a vital step forward in ensuring that London’s health and care systems deliver equitable and culturally sensitive care to all populations. With its collaborative and evidence-driven approach, LARCH is leading the way in tackling racial disparities in healthcare.
Jabeer Butt, Chief Executive of the Race Equality Foundation states:
“REMI, as part of the broader LARCH initiative, addresses a longstanding reality: the health and care system has perpetuated health inequalities for Britain’s Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic communities. REMI aims to drive much needed change within a system that continues to disadvantage and fail London’s Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic communities. We look forward to seeing its implementation across the city.”
Dr Rishi Das-Gupta, CEO of Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London said:
“Reducing racial health inequalities has been a long-standing challenge for health and care services.
While some individual anti-racist projects and programmes have delivered significant positive change, the reality is that embedding sustainable anti-racist action must be built around consistently demonstrating impact on staff and patient experiences and operational outcomes.
Introducing REMI is an important step towards embracing this mindset of accountability and developing a shared framework of anti-racist understanding across the sector.”
Dr Amanda Simon, Researcher on REMI notes:
“The Race Equity Maturity Index empowers organisations to take an active and intentional approach in their anti-racism journey. In doing so, the REMI drives transformative change in a way that is sustainable and embedded. The REMI is a must have tool for all health and care organisations wishing to deliver excellence for all service users.”
You can view the REMI here.
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