Ethnic minorities missing out on care
Posted: August 11, 2014
Posted in: Medical Negligence
A cancer charity has revealed that patients of an ethnic minority are not receiving adequate care in Wales. Marie Curie Cancer Care found that factors such as language barriers and dietary requirements were getting in the way of people of an ethnic minority receiving the end-of-life care they require. The charity compiled a report to highlight the inequality of care in Cardiff.
With over 15% of Cardiff’s population made up of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities (BAME), the charity said that the issue had to be addressed immediately. The report found that in many cases GPs were reluctant to suggest hospices to members of ethnic minority groups due to concerns over lifestyle differences. This has left many people without the care that they need and deserve.
“to enable equal access to our services”
A community development officer at Marie Curie, Shameem Nawaz, said that the report illuminated a general lack of knowledge surrounding the care needs of individuals from BAME groups. She raised the point that there was a general misconception that people from other cultures prefer to care for the sick and elderly at home, as opposed to seeking external care. She said: “We’ve been trying to overcome the barriers identified to enable equal access to our services and offer patient support”.
The charity has already set up a communal prayer room for people of all faiths in a hospice in Penarth. In addition to this, the hospice has its own chef who can cater for all the individual dietary requirements.
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