Barts Health Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment Report

Healthissue/conditionProtectedcharacteristicAvailabilityLocal dataAreascoveredwww.brap.org.ukRegional/national/international dataYear Available YearWhat the evidence is saying2011-122012-13Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest – Bothacknowledge that they do not have sufficientinformation to understand whether there is anunmet need for palliative / end of life care amongethnic minority patients.RaceYes20042007National - Historically in the UK, it appears thatethnic minorities have not had access to specialistpalliative care as much as would be expectedaccording to their percentage in the population.The reasons for this are not fully understood, butinclude low referral rates and lack of knowledge ofservicesReligion and beliefYes200020022009National - There is evidence that the religiousneeds of some South Asians and BlackCaribbeans have not been well catered for.However, hospices have been shown to besensitive to the religious and cultural needs ofminority patients, and patients and families arelargely happy with the care received.SexYes20112006National - US research similarly finds that gender,more than severity of illness, age and comorbidities,had a profound influence on end-oflifecare and decisions. Another American studysimilarly finds varied sex-related poor outcomesfor end-of-life citizens in Michigan, USA, includingcultural barriers, lack of choice and discrimination.Sexual orientationYes20112012National - Research by NCIC documents thatLGBT people fear they will face discrimination andlack of understanding when seeking access to endof life palliative care and related services, with70% near end of life LGBT people reporting theuse of inappropriate language.142