THREAD:

‘Institutional racism in the NHS intensifies in times of crisis’

Wayne Farah argues we must collate clear evidence from our communities to ensure that the gov inquiry into the impact of #COVID19 on BME people in the NHS is not a whitewash:
http://www.irr.org.uk/news/institutional-racism-in-the-nhs-intensifies-in-times-of-crisis/">https://www.irr.org.uk/news/inst...

Wayne argues there is a danger that the inquiry will serve as an opportunity to articulate & establish highly dubious norms around race and health as the vague social construct of ‘race’ is used to explain the mortality and morbidity of diverse populations

WF: It should concern us that some NHS leaders seem to borrow from genetic arguments in explaining the racial contours of the Covid-19 pandemic even as they ignore criticisms from within the BME communities about the structural causes of racial disparities. @AdamRutherford

Prof N. Chaturvedi says there is no evidence that genes explain the excess risk of Covid susceptibility. Wayne Farah agrees but is worried NHS leaders may borrow from genetic arguments in explaining the racial contours of the pandemic
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/22/why-are-people-from-bame-groups-dying-disproportionately-of-covid-19">https://www.theguardian.com/world/202... @hannahdev @MRCLHA

The risk factor for doctors is their work environment. Data from the Workforce Race Equality Standard and staff surveys, point to long established institutionally racist practices as critical risk factors in BME staff deaths @WRES_team @NursingTimes

While the government must certainly be held to account, the NHS must not be allowed to shirk responsibility as they did over the deaths and forced destitution of staff and patients in the Windrush scandal, concludes Wayne Farah, who has 20 year exp on NHS boards