A report by the black and minority ethnic (BAME) COVID-19 expert advisory group has made more than 30 recommendations to the Welsh government to address the socio-economic and environmental risks to the BAME community.
The RCP has welcomed a report by the BAME COVID-19 expert advisory group for Wales on the impact of COVID-19 on people from BAME backgrounds.
Exploring the reasons behind why people from BAME communities are more likely to be adversely affected by COVID-19 is crucial. It is also important to understand that complex and long-standing factors are contributing to the disproportionate impact, which in some respects were the result of a lack of action on race equality.
RCP vice president for Wales, Dr Olwen Williams, said:
‘The RCP welcomes this report and its findings. It is important that we understand the key findings from the report that long-standing disadvantages and lack of BAME representation in decision-making processes contributed in some parts to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people from BAME background.
‘These recommendations have wide ranging implications, especially in relation to communicating health messages. RCP Wales is committed to working long-term with the Welsh government on this important area.
‘In the short term, the RCP is committed to ensuring that everyone working in the NHS, but particularly people from BAME backgrounds, have a risk assessment carried out in line with the recommendations.’