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Press release: NHS must keep up pressure to root out racism

12 Feb 2004

Responding to today's Independent Inquiry into the death of Mr David Bennett, Dr Gill Morgan, NHS Confederation Chief Executive said:
"This report is another reminder that, all too often, black and ethnic minority patients have experienced discrimination in our mental health services - from difficulties in accessing support, to an over-reliance on medication and control.
 "The NHS knows that much more needs to be done to root out racism and ensure services reflect and respond to the diverse communities the NHS serves.
"The recently published consultation on improving mental health services for ethnic minority users and carers is evidence that this issue is being taken seriously by Government and the NHS. The challenge now is to ensure this report is a catalyst not for just for incremental change, but a transformation of our mental health services. Work for the future also needs to reflect and build on the areas of improvement and good practice that have already been undertaken throughout the NHS."
The Confederation believes that a focus on meeting the needs of all patients must be complemented by a drive to ensure the NHS provides a positive environment for all its staff. The NHS is the largest single employer in the UK of black and minority (BME) staff, but there is still serious under-representation at senior levels. The Confederation joined forces with the RCN last year to set up a national forum to drive the development of black and minority ethnic leadership and to provide a stronger voice for BME leaders in the NHS.
Dr Gill Morgan added: "We now need to keep up the pressure to ensure we deliver visible improvements for patients, staff, and local communities and create an NHS which is fair for all."

ENDS

Notes for editors

1. The NHS Confederation represents the organisations that make up the NHS. Our ordinary members include the majority of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; trusts and NHS boards in Scotland; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
2. 7.9% of the UK's population are black or from an ethnic minority, and 8.4% of the NHS's 1.3m staff. At senior levels, 10% of non-executive directors and 5.5% of chairs are black or from an ethnic minority, but only 1% of NHS chief executive posts are held by BME staff. 
3. The black and minority ethnic (BME) forum was launched in November 2003 by the NHS Confederation and Royal College of Nursing. It is designed to drive the development of BME  leadership and to provide a stronger voice for BME leaders and managers in the NHS.
   

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