Research

In 2021, the NHS Race and Health Observatory commissioned an extensive study to explore the long-term impact of COVID 19 on NHS healthcare workers (HCWs) across the UK from diverse ethnic backgrounds and roles. This final report, produced in partnership with the University of Leicester, the University of Nottingham, and UCL, along with a lay summary, presents the final update on the REACH-OUT programme, outlining the rationale and methodology that drove the work, along with key findings and recommendations.

The Observatory has published its much anticipated rapid review into ethnic health inequalities across a range of areas including key priorities set by the independent health body. Ethnic inequalities in access to, experiences of, and outcomes of healthcare are longstanding problems in the NHS, and are rooted in experiences of structural, institutional and interpersonal racism. This report is the first of its kind to analyse the overwhelming evidence of ethnic health inequality through the lens of racism.

This report draws on a longer study we commissioned from The King’s Fund (Chauhan et al 2021).

This report represents one of many steps needed to help understand the factors that shape race inequality in health, including the forces of structural racism and discrimination, and to begin to respond to them with impactful changes. Knowing how the system works, and how it interacts with underserved communities, is an important step towards rebuilding that system in a way that truly has equality at its core. We invite those reading this report to join us on that journey.