Boost for Ethnic Minority Health and Social Care in Medway
A new alliance of health experts and providers has come together to improve care for black and ethnic minority (BME) people in Medway.
The University of Greenwich will lead the Medway BME Special Interest
Group which pulls together Medway Council, Medway Primary Care Trust, Medway Race Equality Council and other partners to set a shared strategy and training programme to meet the needs of BME communities in the area.
BME communities make up between 3-5% of Medway’s population, and face specific issues such as high rates of diabetes, coronary heart disease and circulatory conditions. Parts of the Medway have high rates of child and adult poverty and these are worse among BME communities in the area.
The parties came together at the Medway Summit on BME health and Social Care at the Universities at Medway campus in Chatham last month.
Dr Allan McNaught, an expert from the School of Health & Social Care, says:
"Generally there is reluctance, even unwillingness, in discussing these issues. We have great experience between us. By working together we can really bring change. The School already works closely with the PCT, council and other partners to develop health and social care services and provide the education and training needed.”
He added: “I am really excited about this new initiative and know all the partners are committed to improving services for BME people/groups."
The summit was organised by the University of Greenwich in collaboration
with Medway Council, Medway PCT and the Medway Race Equality Council, to develop a shared understanding and vision for improvements to services. It
was chaired by Vernon Hull, Director of the Gateway Knowledge Alliance; Margaret Adjaye, Equality & Diversity Manager of Wandsworth PCT & St George’s Hospital gave the keynote address.
A jpeg photo of Dr Allan McNaught is available on request from the Press Office.
For further information, contact:
Nick Davison
Public Relations Unit
University of Greenwich
Tel: 020 8331 8092
Email: n.a.p.davison@gre.ac.uk