'Clear message' for Suffolk NHS to better support black, Asian and ethnic minority groups

Suffolk health chiefs have pledged to better support black, Asian and ethnic minority groups after hearing a 'clear message' for improvement during the Covid-19 crisis.

Residents from the county shared their experiences in a meeting organised by the Ipswich & Suffolk Council for Racial Equality with various local NHS groups.

Some of the feedback related to the need to further improve translation and interpretation, accessibility to services and trusted communication.

Dr Ed Garratt, chief executive of the clinical commissioning groups across Suffolk, said: “This event has allowed us to hear the experiences of our black, Asian and minority ethnic communities during Covid-19.

"We heard a clear message that we need to support our communities better and that the right solutions need to be developed with them.

"Too often our black, Asian and minority ethnic communities have felt let down by the health service and this needs to change through a more collaborative approach."

“This event was incredibly important."

Stuart Keeble, director of Public Health Suffolk, said: “This event was incredibly important as it described so eloquently the experiences of many communities in the face of the Covid-19 challenge.

"I have made it a personal priority to address health inequalities in Suffolk, and want to do all I can with my team to listen and learn from communities, working with them to protect health and provide services and support that meet everyone’s needs.”