Health and Social Services.
Although ROTA is not currently funded to work on Health or Social Care issues, they are such an important area of concern for BAME Londoners, and in terms of social policy, that we have been involved in some work on the issues involved. With health inequality for example, Black Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups tend to have higher rates of limiting long term illness (Bangladeshis 11.8%, Irish 10.6%, ‘other’ Black 12%) compared to the 8.8% for White British. The Chinese have the lowest at 4.4%. Diabetes is higher for all BAME groups than White British.
In terms of mental health, hospital admissions especially under the Mental Health Act are over three times higher for some BAME groups than average. In hospital men from the Black Caribbean, Black African, Other Black and Indian groups are about 50% more likely than average to be secluded. Black people are also up to 18 times more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, women from South Asia living in the UK experience particularly high rates of suicide and all BAME groups are more likely to be given drugs than counselling.
ROTA recognises the need to reduce inequalities and eliminate institutional barriers that exclude and isolate individuals
and communities from accessing health care services. We work with the London Health Commission, the Greater London Authority,
NHS Trusts and third sector partners to help meet this aim. We have participated in the Mayor’s consultation on his new Health
Inequality Strategy through submissions and events and will continue to feed into the draft paper.