Description
The concept of ethnic monitoring has evolved over time
as a consequence of growing concern around variations in health
status and health service utilisation between the different
ethnic groups in Britain. Unfortunately, the 1990 proposal
of the Department of Health that patients ethnicity be stated
in GP referral letters from 1992 was not implemented. Ethnic
monitoring in hospitals was introduced from April 1995 but
has not been satisfactorily achieved. This study tested the
feasibility of collecting data on patients ethnicity in general
practice and its inclusion in GP referral letters. It also
assessed the acceptability of ethnic monitoring in primary
care.
