Estephanie Dunn, Regional Director of the Royal College of Nursing in the North West said: “This review confirms the stark picture of the lasting and potentially devastating effect of COVID-19 on BAME communities and this remains a significant concern.
“The report also confirms that BAME health care staff face increased risks, and measures must be taken to ensure there are no further preventable deaths. Our own recent survey showed that only 43% of BAME nursing staff had enough personal protection equipment (PPE) for the eye and face.
“We urge employers across all health and care settings to take swift and comprehensive action to support and protect all staff, with attention to the particular needs of BAME members within their teams. This includes targeted risk assessments, providing effective PPE, fit testing, robust and the redeployment of staff where appropriate. No member of the nursing team should be placed at risk of contracting COVID-19 during the course of delivering care.
“The report also shows that females in the North West had the highest diagnosis rates in the country and males the second highest. It is clear from this and reports of the number deaths of BAME staff that the government needs to invest in coherent measures aimed at tackling health inequalities and develop a cross-governmental strategy with costed action plans to tackle disparities across the whole of society.”
