Health of Black and Ethnic Minority Communities

London Tuesday 12th June

10am-4pm

Toynbee Hall 28 Commercial Street, London E1 6LS

Chair Cllr Patrick Vernon LB Hackney

Main speakers:

Jazz Boghal, Regional Public Health Group London: Jazz's slides

Dr Saffron Karlsen Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL: Saffron's slides

Conor McGinn, Health Development Officer, Federation of Irish Societies: Conor's slides

What do we know about BME health and health care?

What measures are being taken now to improve health in BME communities?

What don't we know and what we should know?

Notes from the discussions:

1.Accountability:

Different sorts of accountability. LAAs and frameworks for delivery in a structure. Working inside established mechanisms. Awareness of what the body is obliged to do for BME issues – what can we ask them?
Transparency of process – knowledge of complaint procedures which BME organisations can use
Need to be in the loop – join umbrella bodies and use them. Accountability of BME organisations – do they represent the whole community?
Showing people how the system works. Education empowers.
Can politics and democracy deliver change?
Need for NHS to be more accountability

2. Getting your voice heard

Whole system approach – attack the key determinants of health – NHS is only a small part of this.

Use PCT and Local authority structures.

Strategic commissioning groups, councillors, media can be given local information.

You need passionate advocates who can deliver or people will give up.

Not tokenism.

Networking is an important mechanism for lobbying.

End of initiativitis – or validated outcomes

Are advocates to be paid, or must they be volunteers? Expenses should be met. Issues of stress on individual community representatives

3. BME Collaboration

Find commonality and joint projects.
Ongoing training and discussion - People centred approach
Diversity of decision makers – Boards, staff and workforce to reflect community
Local communities change rapidly

4.Evidence

Effect of individual budgets will mean that BME organisations will have to sell their services on an individual basis.
Will collecting evidence get you anywhere?
Focus groups, surveys, websites, petitions…
Educate people to know they have rights. Build up trust with communities. Building relationships – hard work.
Where does the evidence go? Needs advocate.
Sensitivity to deprivation, victim culture
Ethnic categories may not relate to local needs
Teaching communities how things work

Social change and mobility

Mentoring

Workforce issues
Access to primary care for BME groups

last updated 29/06/07