Description

The British Government has made the health of Black and

minority ethnic (BME) people a central part of its programme

to reduce current inequalities. There are no data on serious

neurological disorders among this group and the establishment

of a language support outreach project, provided the opportunity

to study users and carers experience of services. Review

of a small number of White people enabled a comparison with

their experiences.

 

BMEs were recruited from all referrals to the outreach project.

Whites were selected from all those with the specified diseases

who were receiving formal services during the final year of

the programme. Interviews were conducted in the clients preferred

language. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected.

Twenty-seven users (16 BMEs and 11 Whites) and 16 carers

(10 BMEs and 6 Whites) were recruited. BME users and carers

experienced inequalities in their disease experience, knowledge

and information and access to services. BMEs were more likely

to express dissatisfaction with services: institutional care

being of particular concern where there was a perception of

discriminatory treatment. Language and communication issues

were principal barriers to service access. Furthermore, there

was evidence of an access/quality paradigm in which ethnically

insensitive services combined with discriminatory practices

acted as a deterrent to their uptake. The findings have important

implications for practice in the primary and secondary care

setting. Addressing inequalities at local level is one of

the top agenda items for all Directors of Public Health across

the country. Can they rise to the challenge and address the

needs of this section of the population?