Report - Access to and Experiences of Health Care by Ethnic Minorities
The Inequalities Reference Group (IRG) aims to reduce inequalities in Tameside. The group meets on a quarterly basis, providing a forum for the sharing of ideas and thoughts on carrying out responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty. While the group is not a decision-making body, it acts in an advisory role to the Tameside Health and Wellbeing Board, making recommendations to steer actions in addressing inequalities and providing constructive challenges.
This report aims to describe and explore the following:
• What are the experiences across various ethnic minority groups in accessing healthcare and during the healthcare process?
• How are their experiences at different points in the healthcare system – primary care, secondary care, mental health?
• How do experiences differ across intersections with other protected characteristics – gender, disability, religion?
Healthwatch Tameside gathered feedback on the experiences of people from ethnic minority communities accessing health and care services, and analysed this data to produce a report of findings and recommendations. Evidence was gathered through a combination of national and local literature reviews, and focus groups with a range of communities in Tameside. Reports on the Greater Manchester area or neighbouring boroughs were used where information did not exist for Tameside specifically.
The report focuses on the key themes of Primary Care, Hospital services, and Mental Health, as well as other issues and insights on both a local and national level, culminating in a set of recommendations on how to improve access to and experiences of care for people from ethnic minority communities.
