Programme: Partnership to tackle persistent and systemic ethnic health inequalities, NHS Race and Health Observatory (NHSRHO) and NICE
What are the main points?
> The ‘landmark agreement’ will include sharing research and practice, to tackle ‘unwarranted inequalities in health for Black, Asian and ethnic minority patients’.
> The collaboration will start by bringing together expertise and insight to ‘de-bias’ clinical guidance across five identified areas:
maternal and neonatal health, mental health, genomics, sickle cell, hypertension.
> The two organisations will also work on setting up processes to help ensure that any new clinical guidance is free of any
potential racial or other bias which could impact patient treatment, safety and outcomes.
EXPERT THOUGHT
Professor Habib Naqvi, Chief Executive, NHSRHO, said: ‘Building an NHS fit for the future is central to the government’s Plan for Change. Equitable healthcare is not just good for patients and their families, it also improves productivity and saves the NHS money.[I] look forward to working with NICE on improving patient experience and outcomes.’
