INCLUDED: Improving NHS Care by Understanding and Embracing Diversity
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving NHS health care and services by understanding and embracing diversity A qualitative study into the views and experiences of the NHS by patients from minority groups, their family members and carers.
IRAS ID
235827
Contact name
Debra Jackson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford Brookes Univesity
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
This research study aims to understand the experiences of UK National Health Service (NHS) healthcare and services by patients from diverse and minority backgrounds, their family members and carers. Particular emphasis will focus on adults from black and minority ethnic groups (BME), adults with learning disabilities (LD) and adults identifying as a gender or sexual minority (GSM).
The NHS, established in 1948, currently serves more than 64.6 million people in the UK with a workforce exceeding 1.5 million staff (NHS England, 2016). This vast organisation provides primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare, such as General Practitioners (GP’s), community hospitals and highly specialist services such as neurosurgery. Additional services include ambulance transport, dentistry and mental health provision as well as broader services such as health websites, social care and support for carers. The NHS was created to provide care from the ‘cradle to the grave’ based on clinical need and not the ability to pay.
Current reforms to the NHS have repeatedly emphasised the importance of creating a service that is more responsive to all patients’ individual needs. Government healthcare policy states everyone should have equal access to public services, where improving patients’ experiences and reducing inequalities are key elements (DH 2015). However, as noted by Bhopal et al. (2007), providing a blanket service does not mean that everyone is receiving equal services.REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EE/0505
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion