Long reads

On this subject

Anekwe, L (2020). ‘Ethnic disparities in maternal care’. BMJ, 2020;368:m442. https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m442

Black and ethnic minority women are paying with their lives for the lack of action on racial bias, reports Lilian Anekwe. [Introduction]

Hui A, Latif A, Chen T and Hinsliff-Smith K (2020). ‘Exploring the impacts of organisational structure, policy and practice on the health inequalities of marginalised communities: illustrative cases from the UK healthcare system.’ Health Policy, 124(3):298-302. 

Paper exploring how organisational structure, policies and practices in healthcare can inadvertently disadvantage marginalised populations (e.g. individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds) and reinforce health inequalities.

It draws upon three diverse UK healthcare settings (long term care institutions, high security hospitals and community pharmacies) to illustrate how systemic injustices negatively impact access to care, treatment and health outcomes.

The first case study considers the care of older people in nursing homes; specifically the disempowering effects of the service structure and the impact of reduction in choice upon older people’s access to health.

The second case study explores the impact of security restrictions upon patients within high security hospitals. It focuses particularly on the maintenance of relationships and support networks outside of the hospital.

The third and final case study, draws upon a national community pharmacy medicine management service to illustrate ways in which policies and guidelines inadvertently obstruct patients’ engagement with the service within a community setting.

We draw upon these settings to highlight inequalities within different contexts and to illustrate the ways in which well intended services may inadvertently disadvantage marginalised communities. [Abstract]

Kline R (2014). The ‘snowy white peaks’ of the NHS: a survey of discrimination in governance and leadership and the potential impact on patient care in London and England. Project report. London: Middlesex University. http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/13201/

This survey of the leadership of NHS Trusts in London assesses progress ten years after the launch of the Race Equality Action Plan. It examines current board composition and looks at the literature on diversity in the NHS.

Ross S, Jabbal J, Chauhan K, Maguire D, Randhawa M and Dahir S (2020). Workforce race inequalities and inclusion in NHS providers. London: The King’s Fund. https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/workforce-race-inequalities-inclusion-nhs

This report outlines the findings of research into how three NHS case studies have sought to address workforce race inequalities and develop positive and inclusive working environments.

It also draws on the lived experience of ethnic minority staff in the NHS to show the ways in which race inequality and discrimination are part of their daily experience of the workplace.

West M, Randhawa M and Dawson J (2015). Making the difference: diversity and inclusion in the NHS. London: The King’s Fund. https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/making-difference-diversity-inclusion-nhs 

Research analysing data from the NHS Staff Survey .  It draws on wider work on climates of inclusion to suggest strategies for lasting and pervasive change.