Report calls for co-produced, BME community-facing COVID-19 messaging

The NHS Confederation BME Leadership Network has published a report into the disproportionate impact of coronavirus on Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

It is based on interviews with BME NHS leaders, clinicians, community organisations and service users, as well as a survey of more than 100 members of the BME Leadership Network.

Overwhelmingly, participants point to long-standing inequalities and institutional racism as root causes.

The absence of translation services and appropriate communications strategies targeting BME communities was one of the most widely reported institutional failures cited.

The report calls on the government to commission a review of the availability of translation services, working with community groups and Healthwatch England. 

It says closer working with VCSE sector organisations, supported by targeted funding and resources, would provide an immediate opportunity to co-produce community-facing COVID-19 messaging and secure the rapid availability of translation services.

NHS Confederation

COVID-19: pre-existing health conditions and ethnicity

Public Health England and the Race Disparity Unit have released a report assessing whether the inequalities in diagnosis and death from COVID-19 between ethnic groups can be explained by pre-existing health conditions.

It shows that, in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in England, among people with a similar history of previous hospital admission mentioning pre-existing health conditions, there were ethnic differences in the numbers of cases and deaths involving COVID-19. 

In addition, ethnic inequalities in survival following diagnosis of COVID-19 were not explained by differences in such patterns of admission with pre-existing health conditions between ethnic groups.

Information on previous admissions will not identify all differences in pre-existing conditions that may affect outcomes from COVID-19, particularly for those that are mainly seen in primary care.

However, other studies that have used primary care data have shown similar findings, with higher mortality in some ethnic minority groups remaining after taking account of comorbidities. 

GOV.UK

Guidance: Communicating with people with a learning disability, autism, dementia or mental health needs during COVID-19

The NHS has published new guidance on communicating with people with a learning disability, autism, dementia or mental health needs during COVID-19.

The guidance also contains information on communicating with family and carers.

It was assessed to identify potential equality impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NHS England

Why embedding young people’s participation in health services matters now more than ever

This article considers the potential implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for youth voices.

Dr Louca-Mai Brady, author of Embedding Young People’s Participation in Health Services: New Approaches, says paediatric services and young people’s participation have often had to take a back seat while health services have been dealing with an unprecedented crisis. 

There is a risk that, far from being embedded, participation could fall back into being merely a ‘nice thing to do if you have time’.

She discuses some of the issues which were raised at the book's launch last year, as well as some innovations which have taken place to keep young people involved.

A Tweetchat on the topic was held on Wednesday evening. Search for #YPHealthParticipation to catch up on the conversation.

Transforming Society

Survey: How effective has pharma been in meeting the needs of patients during the pandemic?

PatientView has launched a study on how effective the pharma industry and pharma companies have been in meeting the expectations of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It would like to hear how well you feel the industry has met the expectations of patients represented by your organisation.

Click on the link below to complete the survey and to register for the full results, set to be published in April.

PatientView

Study: Vaccine misinformation on YouTube

A new study explores how individuals are exposed to antivaccine misinformation on YouTube based on whether they start their viewing from a keyword-based search or from antivaccine seed videos.

It found viewers are more likely to encounter antivaccine videos through direct navigation starting from an antivaccine video than through goal-oriented browsing. 

In two seed networks, provaccine videos, antivaccine videos, and videos containing health misinformation were all found to be more likely to lead to more antivaccine videos.

YouTube has boosted the search rankings of provaccine videos to combat the influence of antivaccine information. 

However, when viewers are directed to antivaccine videos on YouTube from another site, the recommendation algorithm is still likely to expose them to additional antivaccine information.

JMIR

Government updates COVID-19 vaccine prioritisation and implementation report

The Department of Health and Social Care has updated its COVID-19 vaccine and health inequalities: considerations for prioritisation and implementation report.

The latest update to the report, originally published in November 2020, was made on 6 January.

GOV.UK

Deafness and hearing loss toolkit for primary care

The Royal College of General Practitioners has developed an educational toolkit to support GPs and trainees deliver care to patients with hearing difficulties.

It was developed in collaboration with The Royal National Institute for Deaf People and NHS England and NHS Improvement.

The resources developed aim to educate GPs and trainees on deafness and hearing loss, help reduce variations in accessibility to GP practices and ensure deafness and hearing loss are considered across all aspects of primary care activity including consultations and continued care.

RCGP

Event: What's in store for health and care in 2021?

The King's Fund is hosting a free online event providing insight into the wider health and care landscape in 2021.

Speakers will discuss some of the big issues The King's Fund hopes to see progress on in 2021, including health and care staff wellbeing, social care reform, population health and health inequalities, and legislative changes to support the integration agenda.

The event takes place from 10am to 11am on 28 January. Click on the link below to book your place.

The King's Fund