A recent survey by Prostate Cancer Research has unveiled stark disparities in healthcare experiences among Black individuals in the UK, particularly concerning prostate cancer.
According to the poll of 2,000 Black adults, nearly 25% believe discrimination has prevented them from being tested for prostate cancer, while 1 in 3 believe discrimination has stopped them from being tested or treated for any medical problem. Shockingly, less than half (47%) think they would receive the same level of care from the NHS as their white counterparts.
Less than Half of Black People Believe They Would Get Same Cancer Care in NHS
- 1 in 4 unable to get Prostate Cancer Tests: Despite being at twice the risk for prostate cancer compared to white men, almost a quarter of Black men who said they or a loved one had attempted to get tested in the past year said they were not able to get one, with many reporting being obstructed by a GP.
- Health Inequality Ranked High: Discrimination in healthcare was cited as the fourth most pressing racial issue, after workplace discrimination, police brutality, and public abuse.
- Willingness to Get Tested: The desire to be tested is only a small part of the problem. 82% of Black men expressed willingness to undergo prostate cancer testing. Moreover, there is strong belief across the community that family support would be available in the event of a cancer diagnosis (80% of Black women and 74% of Black men).
Health inequality was ranked as the fourth out of 10 racial issues that the community most worries about, ranking above Stop and Search, and being the target of violence from members of the public.
“These black and white figures are shocking, and an important call to action,”
Oliver Kemp, CEO of Prostate Cancer Research, said. “It shouldn’t be the community alone who has to fix this – just as we have seen members of the community come together around our Real Talk campaign, we are calling on government, the NHS, and other partners to come together and work with us to close this health gap.
“It is vital that we raise awareness not only amongst the community, but also amongst healthcare professionals and policymakers. We are calling on GPs to be mindful of Black men’s greater risk when considering PSA testing, and on government to introduce screening for men in high-risk groups – our data shows that 82% of Black men would be willing to take part in such a programme, if it were rolled out. It is staggering to think of how many lives could be saved.”
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