Whilst there has been much written about Covid-19 and how it doesn’t discriminate, emerging research indicates that poor health outcomes are more likely in BAME communities. Recent analysis by researchers at Imperial College over a 5 week period covering 3 hospitals in the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust did show health outcomes vary by ethnicity.

Black patients tended to be younger with fewer underlying health problems yet their health outcomes were worse. Whilst we know that this virus thrives on inequalities and there may be many social factors that lead to higher number of members of the BAME communities getting the virus ie low paid, key workers, generational living etc  it doesn’t explain ‘a trend suggesting higher odds of hospital mortality amongst those of black compared to white ethnicity’ (Link below).

Public Health England have also found ‘Black and Asian ethnic groups up to twice as likely to die with virus’.  NHS England has offered a risk assessment tool and risk assessment scoring for use with employees of BAME communities.

In Essex, published on YourThurrock, Cllr Gavin Callaghan, Leader of Basildon Council has written to Dr Mike Gogarty, Director of Public Health for Essex, calling for an enquiry into the impact of the virus on BAME Communities, along with the effectiveness of local responses.

As Portfolio Holder for Harlow Council for Governance, Diversity & Equality I would like to add my support to this request as I am aware that some communities have been hit harder, this enquiry will help us to understand why and to take learning for the future.

Frances Mason

Portfolio Holder for Governance, Equality & Diversity

Reports referred to:

Imperial College London

Your Thurrock