The Integrated Care System for Devon (ICSD) is a partnership of health and social care organisations working together with local communities across Devon to improve people’s health, wellbeing and care.
The ICSD knew from previous consultations that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities were experiencing challenges with healthcare access, participation and outcomes. Nous worked with the ICSD to explore these issues and identify opportunities for improvement.
To understand the opportunities it was essential to tap into the lived experiences of BAME staff and communities in Devon. There were few existing channels to engage people and little data gathered on community and staff experiences.
Andrew Millward
To expand engagement, Nous collaborated with BAME staff networks and community organisations, including the BAME staff network in hospital trusts and the Plymouth & Devon Race Equality Council. This partnership gave participants essential support, including translation, during the consultations.
In total we engaged 67 BAME participants from across Devon, using individual and group interviews, both in person and online. These engagements were complemented by analysis of local and national data on BAME health inequalities.
Here’s what we found:
We offered system-level recommendations for ICSD and local recommendations for individual partner organisations. They included:
All recommendations were accepted.
The project improved ICSD’s understanding of the needs of BAME communities and staff, which supported COVID-19 vaccination roll-out efforts in real time.
