Claims government has been slow to deal with disproportionate impact

90% of doctors killed by disease were from BAME communities. Picture: BMA

Brentford & Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury has said that delays from the Government in tackling the impact of Covid-19 on black, Asian and Minority ethnic communities (BAME) is weakening trust.

Speaking during Women & Equalities Questions in the House of Commons she claimed that the Government had been slow in taking action to deal with the problem.

Raising the fact that it has now been two weeks since the Government first released Public Health England’s report into the disproportionate risk facing BAME communities from Covid-19, Ms Cadbury warned that the lack of concrete action in response from the Government had undermined public confidence.

Speaking in full afterwards Ruth said, “We’ve simply had too many delays and false starts from the Government about protecting BAME communities from Covid-19.

“We already know BAME individuals are more than two times more likely to die from Covid-19, with BAME NHS and key workers particularly at risk. 90% of the doctors who’ve died from covid-19 have been BAME and it’s clear that much more needs to be done

“I know from the large number of local residents who’ve contacted me about this just how rightly worried people are about the slow pace of action from the Government.

“Now that the Government have released two separate reports by Public Health England we need to see clear action to protect BAME communities and to restore trust and confidence.’’

In response to concerns expressed by MPs on the issue the equalities minister, Kemi Badenoch, said: “Much more needs to be done to understand the key drivers of the disparities identified and the relationships between the different risk factors.”

June 18, 2020