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Some BAME health workers still waiting for Covid 19 risk assessment
27/07/2020
More than a quarter of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) NHS staff are still waiting for a risk assessment for Covid-19, data suggests.
Figures seen by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) suggest 73% of BAME staff had had a risk assessment in England by July 17, but in some hospital trusts the figure was just 20%.
Some trusts in the South West are thought to have made poorer progress than the national average, at 65%, the HSJ said.
NHS England recommended risk assessments for BAME staff as long ago as April and has now extended the deadline for them to be completed to the end of July.
People from BAME backgrounds are thought to be at higher risk of poor outcomes from coronavirus, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock saying they are “disproportionately” dying from Covid-19.
An NHS spokesman said progress has been made since July 17.
He added: “We have been clear that trusts as the legally responsible employers must carry out risk assessments for their black and minority ethnic staff and other at-risk groups, in line with publicly-available guidance, and publish their progress.
“Early indications show significant progress was made in the first two weeks, meaning thousands more staff will now be benefiting from additional measures to protect their health, and trusts tell us that this work continued towards the end of the stated window.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub