Measures are being taken to stamp out institutional racism in the health service in Scotland, including setting up an ethnic minority resource centre to monitor the treatment of patients and the recruitment of staff.
The measures follow publication of a recent report by the Scottish Executive, Fair for All, which examined current policies and practice throughout Scotland. Although it did not find evidence of individual racist behaviour, it uncovered wide variations in practice and a lack of awareness among NHS leaders of ethnic minority health issues.
Dr Rafik Gardee, a consultant for public health in Glasgow, who conducted the review, said doctors from ethnic minorities may work for several years as locums without being appointed as consultants.
“There are major disparities both in policy and practice between health boards and trusts. It is pretty obvious that something needs to be done about it,” he said.
The Scottish Executive is to issue guidance to NHS chief executives on the standards they should be meeting on the treatment of patients, recruitment of staff, provision of food, and provision of written information in a wider range of languages.
Dr Aftas Ahmed, chairman of the Overseas Doctors Association in Scotland, said: “I am pleased that it has been accepted that a problem exists in Scotland, and I am also pleased with what is being done about it.”
Scotland's ethnic minority population at the 1991 census was 1.3%, with 60% resident in the four main cities, where they make up 3-5% of the population.
Fair for All is available at www.scotland.gov.uk/publications
Figure.
MOMENTUM FILM DISTRIBUTORS/IMAGENET
American actor Samuel L Jackson attempts camouflage in his latest film, The 51st State. But the needs of ethnic minorities are exposed in a Scottish Executive report.