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

    djackson@brookes.ac.uk

  • 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