Ethnicity & Health Unit
Evidence-based approach to understanding and addressing health inequality
Purpose of the Ethnicity & Health Unit
Meet the Team
The Ethnicity and Health Unit was formed at NIHR ARC NWL and Imperial College London in 2021 to address challenges and act as a beacon of real-life change, with the vision of advancing health equality for ethnically diverse communities through cutting-edge research.
Working with our local network of community-facing organisations that support people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, we aim to generate new research findings leading to real-world health improvements for people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
We exist to apply an evidence-based approach to addressing health inequality
Why is it important?
Health inequality is a complex and pressing public health challenge.
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown into even sharper focus the health inequalities affecting the UK’s ethnic minority communities. These issues existed previously but the pandemic has exacerbated and highlighted them. A similar story emerges around common health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Much more evidence is required to fully understand and address these inequalities. We employ the best research design and methodology to enhance the scientific evidence which can inform policy, practice, and decision-making for a more equal world.
What do we hope to achieve?
To convene a community of researchers focused on understanding health issues relevant to ethnic minority communities.
To create opportunities for ethnically diverse individuals to progress in academia and education through scholarships and mentoring.
To produce data and intelligence to enhance the evidence base on health inequalities in ethnic minority communities.
To support policy, practice and strategy which would enable equity in health and healthcare across ethnic minority communities.
What is the benefit?
Reduce variation in quality of care received
Improve access to the NHS services
Improve care experience, quality of life
Promote equality
Working with NHS England
The publication of the Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard report in 2021 identified the racial disparity experienced by BME doctors in terms of recruitment, promotion, pay, experience of bullying and harassment, and representation in senior positions. This was especially evident for international medical graduates and specialty and associate specialist doctors.
The NHS England Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard will focus on five domains:
To reduce disproportionality of entry into local disciplinary processes and referrals to the GMC for BME and international medical graduate (IMG) doctors.
To improve diversity in senior medical leadership appointments.
To increase BME representation amongst the Councils of Royal Colleges to proportionately reflect their memberships.
To ensure there are meaningful local arrangements for initial and ongoing support for IMG doctors.
To support SAS doctors to make progress in leadership roles and by review of the contract.
The International Medical Graduates NHS Induction Programme is included in the NHSE plan of five actions within Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard under Domain 4. NIHR ARC Northwest London and the Ethnicity and Health unit lead the development and launch of the International Medical Graduates NHS Induction Programme including the assessment of the IMG Induction Pilot which informed the programme. This evaluation confirmed the benefits of the induction in the early settling down phase as well as confirming its effectiveness.
You can view a copy of the Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard and a copy of the Assessment the IMG Induction Pilot Report below.
MWRES The First Five 2023.pdfAssessing the IMG Induction Pilot Report 31 December 2022.docxEthnicity and Health Unit News and Events
Publications and Relevant Documents
Ethnicity and Health, Postnote, Parliamentary Office Science and Technology, UK Parliament: https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/post/postpn276.pdf
Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard (MWRES) WRES indicators for the medical workforce 2020:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/MWRES-DIGITAL-2020_FINAL.pdf
London Workforce Race Strategy Race equality. A better NHS for us all. Executive Summary: https://mcusercontent.com/ec5dea9536bde16d5a3153530/files/697d8cc5-cf5d-479f-ab8f-73567888b16d/LWRSES.pdf
Now is the time for radical action on racial health inequalities:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o424
Equality and diversity in health governance systems: are we getting it right and are there lessons from COVID-19?
DOI: https//doi.org/10.4997/JRCPE.2021.421
Re-thinking the inclusion of race in British hypertension guidance:
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-021-00601-9
Now is the time for radical action on racial health inequalities:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o424
Tackling racism in UK health research:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2021-065574
Racial and ethnic health disparities in healthcare settings:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n605
Playing hide and seek with structural racism:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n988
'We weren't checked in on, nobody spoke to us': An exploratory qualitative analysis of two focus groups on the concerns of ethnic minority NHS staff during COVID-19:
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053396
Bereavement care for ethnic minority communities: A systematic review of access to, models of, outcomes from, and satisfaction with, service provision:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252188
External Links
The Centre for Ethnic Health Research - NIHR ARC East Midlands
Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in research - nihr.ac.uk
Blog: Race equity in health research: Good for the public and the workforce by Prof. Mala Roa - nihr.ac.uk
Blogs by Dr Bola Owolabi, Director, Health Inequalities at NHS England and NHS Improvement