02.06.20
NHS England and NHS Confed launch health inequalities research centre
NHS England and NHS Confederation have launched a new expert research centre set to investigate the impact of race and ethnicity on people’s health.
The NHS Race and Health Observatory, which will be hosted by the NHS Confederation, will identify and tackle the specific health challenges facing people from BAME backgrounds.
The announcement of the research centre’s creation comes amid significant concerns about the particular impact of the Covid-19 virus on people from BAME backgrounds.
The Observatory will involve experts from this country and internationally, offering analysis and policy recommendations to improve health outcomes for NHS patients, communities and staff.
The founding of the NHS Race and Health Observatory comes after the recent publication of the latest assessment of race equality in the NHS, which showed a significant increase in representation of BAME people at board level across the country.
Prerana Issar, Chief People Officer, NHS England, said: “Addressing health inequalities needs a concerted effort from all of us and this means facing up to how we can tackle the health inequalities that COVID-19 has brought into stark relief, which is why the race observatory is an important step, and we need everyone to support this society-wide change.”
Lord Victor Adebowale, Chair of NHS Confederation, added: “I’m extremely proud that the NHS Confederation is to host the Observatory. As an organisation we are committed to supporting our members both as employers and service providers to promote equality, diversity and inclusion and create a fairer health and care system.
The independent body’s first action will be to establish a steering group and will aim to be fully established later this year.