Yorkshire's BAME frontline medics are 'living in fear' of coronavirus, senior doctor warns

The NHS must do more to protect Yorkshire’s BAME frontline medical staff who are “living in fear and panic” by increased death rates from Covid-19, a senior doctor has said.
The BMA say more than 90 per cent of medical staff who have died from coronavirus were of BAME origin. Picture: PAThe BMA say more than 90 per cent of medical staff who have died from coronavirus were of BAME origin. Picture: PA
The BMA say more than 90 per cent of medical staff who have died from coronavirus were of BAME origin. Picture: PA

The British Medical Association (BMA) said more than 90 per cent of doctors who had died after contracting the disease were black, Asian and minority ethnic people (BAME).

A report last week by Public Health England into why BAME individuals had the highest death rates from coronavirus highlighted that historical racism may make NHS staff less likely to speak up regarding concerns over personal protective equipment or increased risk in the workplace.

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Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Dr Rajeev Gupta, a pediatric consultant in Barnsley and chair of the BMA’s regional consultant committee in Yorkshire, said he had been contacted by “at least 60” of his colleagues in the weeks since the death of Dr Medhat Atalla, a consultant geriatrician at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, from Covid-19 in April.

Dr Rajeev Gupta.Dr Rajeev Gupta.
Dr Rajeev Gupta.

“One in particular was so frantic and panicked,” he said. “His daughter was shouting in the background, ‘don’t go to work’. But that fear is not being expressed, because they feel no-one will listen to them.”

The feeling that they “must perform better” than white colleagues and cultural norms that prevent speaking out are also making it worse, Dr Gupta said.

He is calling on NHS trusts in the region to commit to proactively protecting BAME frontline medical staff, with increased PPE and redeployment of staff from minority backgrounds away from high risk roles.

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Dr Gupta, who is chair of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, added: “Action is not being taken quickly enough, and there is no recognition of the cultural issues that are preventing people from speaking out.

“Coronavirus is not going away and we need a clear and tangible action plan to support our BAME doctors.”

An NHS North East and Yorkshire spokesperson said: “Covid-19 has put an unprecedented spotlight on the health inequalities in our society, and is further evidence for why NHS organisations and trusts have been asked to prioritise and carry out risk assessments for their black and minority ethnic staff and other vulnerable groups, as a priority.

“Ensuring that we protect all NHS staff will always remain an absolute top priority, and if any colleague is concerned, they should raise this within their trust and be listened to.”

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A Government Equalities Office spokesperson said work was being done to protect BAME communities from the impact of the coronavirus.

NHS trusts across the country have been asked to consider ethnicity into risk assessments for staff, and work with trade unions to mitigate risk for individuals.

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