Agenda item

5.1

Clive Clarke, Chair of the Impact of Covid-19 on BAME      communities  strategy group, and North East & Yorkshire Regional     Director of Inclusion (formally Deputy Chief Executive, SHSC) attended the meeting and introduced the report.  Sarah Hepworth (Health Improvement Principal) and Shahida Siddique (Chief Executive Officer - Faithstar) attended the meeting and gave a presentation entitled ‘Impacts of Covid19 on
Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities in Sheffield’

5.2

The presentation looked at:

·       PHE reports on Covid19 impact on risks and outcomes

·       What we did and why?

·       Who attends the group?

·       Methodology and ethos of group

·       Why are BAME populations being hit harder by Covid19 in Sheffield?

·       Key impacts- lived experience

·       BAME Community Organisations

·       Development of Trust

5.3

It was noted that the impact on the BAME community was indisputable and the ACP had identified the need to establish a group to look at how to manage the impact.  The Group included BAME community representatives who had helped to produce the proposals.

5.4

Five themes had been identified, including:

·       Improving diagnosis dates

·       Update on flu vaccinations in BAME communities

·       Having a BAME community voice on the ACP

·       Writing to various CEO’s asking for implementation plans

·       Asking the ACP for firmer proposals

5.5

It had been difficult to formulate a BAME impact assessment due to lack of data and it became evident that there was a need to talk to the communities and allow them space to talk about their experiences of Covid-19.   A methodology to the group had been organised which included a range of different leaderships.

5.6

BAME communities had been hit harder on a geographical level and the group wanted to collect lived experiences, develop trust, be proactive and ensure that people were being heard.

5.7

Brian Hughes thanked Sarah and Shahida for their work and asked how do we listen and learn and take forward what we have learned?  Greg Fell said that this would start with the recommendations from the Group.  The methodology was also very good and could be applied elsewhere.  Effort was needed to take forward the recommendations.

5.8

Shahida Siddique explained that an intersectional approach was very important to the citizens of Sheffield and would place citizens at the heart of the issue.

5.9

Judy Robinson stated that health inequality within the BAME community was not new.  What would be done now to make a difference?  Shahida Siddique explained that the group aimed to promote proactive inclusivity and there was a need to look at how to develop policy and strategy and ensure community involvement.

5.10

Mike Potts felt that it was good to see the rawness of the report, but it needed to be distilled into a more structured way.  How do we continue to deliver?  No conversation had taken place of any capability to deliver and an honest conversation needed to take place regarding what could and couldn’t be delivered.

5.11

Shahida Siddique explained that communities were tired of recommendations and the Group had started a action log titled ‘You Said, We Did’ so that group members could see progress made.

5.12

Terry Hudsen said that he was fully supportive of the report and all those involved must commit to making progress against the recommendations

5.13

Kathryn Robertshaw informed the meeting that the ACP had put a response to NHS England, but there was more work to be done.  More BAME representation on different bodies was required.

5.14

The Chair felt that the group fully endorsed what had been heard today and he was impressed by the breadth of work undertaken so far.

5.15

The Board are asked:

1) Comment on the work done to date  - As seen above.

2) Are there any other areas that the Board feel need to be pursued as a priority – Ensuring that the recommendations are followed up and carried out.

3) How can the board be kept up to date with this aspect of inequalities work steam?  By trying to ensure more BAME representatives on appropriate groups/bodies.

5.16

AGREED that the Board:-

1)    Note the summary document with the appendices; 

2) Recognise that work is ongoing, the next deadline is the production of proposals of detailed action focused proposals, to go back to the Executive Delivery Board; 

3) Note the work to address the national recommendations; 

4) Note that this work will be feed into the new formed Race Equalities Commission as supporting evidence of good practice in the city to address the disparities of risk to Covid19 in workplace settings for Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities; and

5) Request a report back in the next 6 months.