Responding to the plans outlined by Public Health England on the review into factors on outcomes for Covid-19 patients, Dame Donna Kinnair, RCN Chief Executive and General Secretary, said:
“We are extremely concerned about the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on black, Asian and minority ethnic health and care workers. Every day that passes without knowing why this happening is another day with frontline staff being needlessly put at extra risk. All healthcare workers need to be safe right now, and that means that all employers must risk assess BAME employees, including ensuring provision of the right PPE for everyone who needs it.
“We will continue to call for accurate reporting of the numbers of deaths and infections among BAME healthcare staff across the UK so that swift action can be taken by employers to reduce risk and harm. But we cannot wait for the data to catch up while people are dying.”
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