We've responded to a major review into ethnic inequalities in healthcare.
Commenting on the recent report from the NHS Race and Health Observatory into ethnic inequalities across healthcare, RPS Director for England Ravi Sharma said:
“This evidence in this report is truly shocking. It’s totally unacceptable that ethnic minorities continue to experience poor access and outcomes across a wide range of health conditions, and that the NHS workforce is disadvantaged.
“The report is clear that an urgent action plan is needed from the NHS to improve patient care and tackle workforce issues without delay. Recommendations such as improving ethnicity data collection, examining ethnic pay gaps, and reviewing recruitment and staff development procedures, will enable a greater understanding of the barriers still to be removed for staff to progress within the NHS.
“Ultimately we want to see more ethnic minority colleagues in leadership positions locally, regionally and nationally. Without this, our perspective is bypassed, our skills and contributions are missed and inequalities are perpetuated for patients and the workforce.
"The pharmacy profession has a high representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic colleagues, comprising over 45 per cent of the workforce. We urge the NHS and governments to include pharmacy in national plans to improve inclusive pharmacy practice to benefit patients, to ensure the workforce is represented at all levels and to protect the safety and wellbeing of pharmacists, their teams and the communities they serve.”
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