Achieving Health Equality

Reviewing existing research and evidence, Achieving Equality in Health and Social Care: A Framework for Action argues that racialised communities in Britain have poorer health and social care outcomes compared to the rest of the population. The alarming disparities include:

• Self reported health problems such as anxiety, asthma, bronchitis and chest pain were twice to five times more prevalent among Gypsy Traveller communities
• People from minority ethnic communities are up to six times more likely to develop diabetes
• People of African and Caribbean origin are at increased risk of having a stroke more than any other ethnic group
• Rates of supervised community treatment orders for mental health are higher than the national average for Indian, Bangladeshi, Black Caribbean and Other Black groups
• Men from Bangladeshi, Black Caribbean and Irish groups were more likely to smoke than their counterparts yet less likely to receive smoking cessation interventions

• Carers from minority ethnic communities are rarely the focus of social work assessment and support.

Patrick Vernon, Chief Executive of The Afiya Trust, said: ‘There is disturbing evidence that health inequalities are getting wider between the general population and BME communities. The findings of our manifesto show that the life expectancy and the quality of life for BME communities in England is a human rights issue. We are dying younger and experiencing long term health conditions and disability. We need to break this vicious cycle so that everyone is treated equally and fairly. This requires a major cultural and leadership shift in mainstream services and government.’
  
Amplifying these health disparities are budget cuts to the BME voluntary sector and the detrimental impact World Class Commissioning is having on the sustainability of the sector with the closure of community-based organisations. Also poorly executed social marketing campaigns are failing to meet the needs of BME communities around public awareness and information.

Dr Jayasree Kalathil, an independent researcher and mental health system survivor who compiled the manifesto, said: ‘Unless there is long term political will to achieve race equality in health and social care services, we will continue to deny a large number of people a fundamental human right. The government and policy makers have to listen to BME service users and carers to understand their specific needs. A “one size fits all” approach will not address the complex underlying issues that continue to lead vulnerable people in society to be marginalised.’

Three key recommendations made in the manifesto for the next government are:

• Establish a race and health advisory board to report directly to the Secretary of State for Health and the Chief Medical Officer
• Service user and carer leadership in the evaluation of health and social care services
• Set milestones to eradicate racial inequalities in health, linked to performance targets for primary care trusts, local authorities and mental health trusts.

The manifesto was launched on 16th March 2010.

Download "Achieving Equality in Health and Social Care: A Framework for Action".