Coronavirus highlights need to tackle inequality, says health chief
The coronavirus crisis has highlighted the need to address deprivation and inequality that exists in the black and minority ethnic (BAME) population, a health chief has said.
BAME people have been more adversely affected by Covid-19 and a range of theories have been suggested for this, including some communities being more vulnerable due to deprivation.
Paul Maubach, head of Wolverhampton's Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said the rate of coronavirus infections among the BAME population demonstrated the need to try and tackle social issues.
According to city council data, 35 per cent of people in Wolverhampton – more than one in three – are from a BAME background.
Speaking at the CCG's AGM, Mr Maubach said: "Covid-19 has more adversely affected that population than others. It has affected deprived communities more severely than others.
"This centres around our healthy lives agenda, it centres around deprivation. The focus is going to be on how do we address inequalities in health and how do we ensure equality for our black, Asian and minority ethnic population?"
Mr Maubach also explained that a BAME network had been set up at the CCG, which funds hospital and GP services in Wolverhampton, in response to the Black Lives Matter movement so any issues could be raised.
He added: "I've add several discussions with staff about this issue. We have set up a BAME network within the CCG to engage with me in person about how we as an organisation work."
Responding to a question raised by a member of the public about the prospect of establishing a charter based on the health needs of specific demographics in the city, chief financial officer James Green suggested he did not believe it was the right way to go.
He said: "Is it the right answer? I don't know to be honest. It what we actually do that is key."
