Call out for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic people’s healthcare experiences during COVID-19
Public Health England published a report which showed the disproportionate effect COVID-19 has had on people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. Its findings show that coronavirus has both replicated existing health inequalities and, in some cases, increased them.
It is therefore vital we understand how structural inequalities affect the health and care people receive, which is why we’re asking you to share your experiences of services during the pandemic.
How will my story help?
Sharing the health and/ or social care experiences you or a loved one has had during COVID-19 can help services understand:
- If you can access the information, support and treatment you need.
- How COVID-19 has affected healthcare for you and your loved ones.
- What the key issues and themes are surrounding people’s experiences of health and social care services during the pandemic.
- Where improvements could be made.
Whether your experience is good, bad or a bit of both, we want to hear it. It only takes a few moments but could make a big difference, locally and nationally.
What you tell us remains anonymous and there will not be repercussions to your current or future care.
How has COVID-19 affected healthcare for you and your loved ones?
We need to understand the reasons for the disproportionate number of people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic groups that have had COVID-19.
The report from Public Health England highlighted the significant, detrimental impact that COVID-19 has had on people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities in the UK:
- Death rates from COVID-19 were highest amongst people of Black and Asian ethnic groups.
- People of Bangladeshi ethnicity have twice the risk of death as White British people.
- Black men were found to be three times more likely to die from COVID-19. Other ethnic groups are also at greater risk.
- People from Black ethnic groups are most likely to be diagnosed.
- People of Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Other Asian, Caribbean, and Other Black ethnicity are at 10% - 50% higher risk of death.
- Death rates in the most deprived areas are more than double those in the least deprived areas.
Gathering people’s personal experiences of care during the pandemic can help us understand and share the reasons behind these figures with national stakeholders.
I’m registered disabled and have recently recovered from presumed COVID-19. Because of the way the reception at my GP surgery works, on a number of occasions I’ve been left without medication and appointments, even after calling three times in one day. This leaves me in pain and feeling stressed. The wrong information was given to me by the surgery on at least three occasions. I tried to complain to the Practice Manager before, but nothing was done. They told me to go to a walk-in centre, but I’ve just recovered from COVID-19 so walking into one of the centres is the last thing I’m going to do.
I know someone who has a story to tell
If you know someone who has a story to tell, or are part of a group or organisation that supports people from Black, Asian or other Ethnic Minority backgrounds, we want to hear from you. Please get in contact with us if you want to share your experiences, or on behalf on someone.
