Urgent action needed on BAME risk assessments

A survey has found that more than two-thirds of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) pharmacists and pre-registration pharmacists across primary and secondary care have still not yet had access to potentially lifesaving coronavirus risk assessments.

Nearly two months after the NHS said the coronavirus risk assessments should take place, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the UK Black Pharmacists Association survey also revealed that 78 per cent of black pharmacists and pre-regs believe they were at risk of coronavirus and changes to their working practices are required. This figure compares to 67 per cent of white colleagues.

The NHS said at the end of April that employers should risk-assess staff at potentially greater risk – a recommendation recently reinforced in a report from Public Health England on the impact of the virus on BAME groups.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the UK Black Pharmacists Association have already called for individual risk assessments to be mandatory for BAME staff and intend to re-survey pharmacists and pre-regs in a month’s time to check if there has been any improvement. They have also written to government equalities ministers across Great Britain, calling for support for BAME pharmacists and team members.

Sandra Gidley, president of the RPS, said: “It’s shocking that pharmacists across primary and secondary care, especially colleagues from BAME backgrounds, are telling us they have still not been risk assessed. Employers must take urgent action to address this and ensure pharmacists and their team can continue looking after patients safely.

“It is essential that pharmacy teams are properly assessed so that those at high risk can be supported to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission, while still providing a vital service to the NHS and the public. Lessons are to be learned from this pandemic, especially with the risk of a second wave, and we now need action so our workforce is protected.”

Elsy Gomez Campos, president of the UKBPA, said: “It is concerning to hear that pharmacy colleagues are still waiting for a Covid-19 risk assessment. Pharmacy staff need to feel safe if they are going to do their job without fear or anxiety. We now know that Covid-19 has negatively affected the BAME population the most, including health and care staff. This is the time to look after each other and to look after everyone. Our profession must rise to the challenge and respond to the RPS call of risk assessing pharmacy staff. In a month’s time, the survey results must be very different from what we see today.”