(Spectre of racism in health and health care: lessons from history and the United States)

Racism in healthcare institutions needs to be driven out, says Professor Raj Bhopal from the University of Newcastle in this week's BMJ. He says that in the UK the spotlight has mainly been on racism directed at ethnic minority staff, but with growing concerns about the quality of healthcare delivered to ethnic minority groups and evidence of continuing racist attitudes in the UK, the spotlight is likely to shift to racism in patient care. He suggests that lessons from the experience in the US, particularly difficulties in pinpointing racism and in narrowing inequalities, may guide our actions in the UK.

Contact:

Professor Raj Bhopal, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health Medical School, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne [email protected]