As we all know, Covid disproportionately affects people from BAME communities. We also know that many health inequalities exist within Kent & Medway and that divide may be getting bigger due to the pandemic. The Forums which are supported by Engaging Kent, together with Healthwatch Kent and other local voluntary organisations, have been working together to explore how we could progress the conversation about ethnicity and health inequalities. As a result, a new cross sector working group has evolved, including organisations working with disabled people and mental health. This group will look at the very real impacts of ethnicity and health inequalities.
This working group is currently exploring its potential scope: from Covid related disproportionate illness and death in key groups, to institutional racism, to representation, power and decision making. It will also be mapping what else is happening across Kent and Medway and how should this work link to avoid duplication? Is there a need to balance a ‘bottom up’ and a ‘top down’ led agenda? The group has already contacted NHS employers and Social Care employers in Kent and Medway to raise questions about support for BAME employees during Covid.
If you would like to keep in touch with this group and follow its progress and development, let Rheanna know on rheanna.egleton@engagingkent.co.uk
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