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PRACTICE: Aziz Sheikh, Rashid Gatrad, and Sangeeta Dhami Consultations for people from minority groups BMJ 2008; 337: a273 [Full text]

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Good health to all minority groups

Joyce M Carter   (7 July 2008)

Good health to all minority groups 7 July 2008
Joyce M Carter, Consultant in Public Health Medicine Liverpool Primary Care Trust, Liverpool, L1 4AZ Send response to journal: Re: Good health to all minority groups	Sheikh et al restrict their paper about consultations for people from minority groups, to those from minority ethnic and faith groups (1). Attention should be given, as well, to people from other minority groups, some of whom will also be members of a minority ethnic and faith group. For example, people with learning disabilities generally do not get a good service from the NHS. This was highlighted in a government white paper in 2001 (2). A consultation paper about what has happened since then reports, “the underpinning problem with health and healthcare for people with learning disabilities is that of the low priority and focus given to this area by NHS organizations” (3). A framework for primary care services for people with learning disabilities gives guidance about what is needed to provide good primary care (4). It makes clear that this is a human rights issue. Shiekh et al refer to patient profiling and the need to ask about the main language spoken. This does not take into account that some people do not use spoken languages. Perhaps it would be better to refer to the main language used or the main form of communication. Liverpool PCT`s document “Communications for All - Guidelines” includes reference to the need for British Sign Language interpreters. It also refers to the need for textphones and for staff to understand the RNID TypeTalk service. This service “connects people who cannot speak or hear on the phone, with other people using a telephone, by providing text- to-voice translation” (5). It is therefore useful for deafened people who use speech as well as people who don`t use speech. The Equality and Human Rights Commission was established in 2007 replacing the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality, and the Disability Rights Commission and addressing other aspects of inequality, as well as human rights (6). This emphasises that there is diversity within and between minority groups; the NHS must ensure an equitable service for all. Joyce Carter joyce.carter@liverpoolpct.nhs.uk References 1. Sheikh A , Gatrad R, Dhami S. Consultations for people from minority groups BMJ 2008;337:a273 2. Department of Health. Valuing people. A new strategy for learning disability for the 21st century. London: Stationery Office, 2001. (cm 5086) 3. Department of Health. Valuing people now. From progress to transformation. London: Stationery Office, 2007 4. NHS Primary Care Contracting. Primary Care Service Framework: Management of Health for People with Learning Disabilities in Primary Care 2007 http://www.primarycarecontracting.nhs.uk/204 (accessed 7 July 2008) 5. RNID TypeTalk http://www.typetalk.org (accessed 7 July 2008) 6. Equality and Human Rights Commission http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/Pages/default.aspx (accessed 7July 2008) Competing interests: None declared