Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Over 75 per cent of BAME doctors worried about getting infected at work, says survey

OVER three-quarters of black, Asian and minority ethnic doctors remain concerned about getting infected with coronavirus at work, a new survey has found.

According to the study by Royal College of Physicians (RCP), at least 48 per cent of all doctors it surveyed were either “concerned or very concerned” about their vulnerability. The corresponding figure among BAME doctors shot up to 76 per cent.


Besides personal safety, two-thirds of all doctors expressed fear of unknowingly infecting people at home.

Doctors flagged “poor access to personal protective equipment, insufficient training on how to fit masks and lengthy waits for virus testing” as the primary issues they faced, reports noted.

“Things are nowhere near what we need,” said RCP president, Prof Andrew Goddard. “People assume everyone’s feeling okay on the frontline and that morale is good, but the survey shows people are worried about it all. The PPE remains a significant issue. Testing has got better, there are still concerns, particularly around delays in getting the results back.”

He highlighted that concern was “very high among BAME doctors”, adding that it wasn’t surprising “given the awful situation we’ve had with the deaths of healthcare workers and people in social care from BAME backgrounds”.

“The fact that we’re so reliant on the BAME workforce in the NHS and social care, and the fact that the workforce is so worried about their health, is something we need to wake up to,” he said.

The survey results came at a time when new NHS guidance urged hospitals to redeploy BAME based on safety assessment.

Notably the British Medical Association’s chair, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, had recently called for an inquiry into the disproportionate volume of BAME health workers contracting coronavirus.

The survey report said about a third of doctors were off work following the outbreak, “most with confirmed or suspected Covid-19”.

Though efforts were on to boost PPE supplies, 16.5 per cent of doctors covered in the survey said they recently faced unavailability of officially recommended equipment.

Only 18 per cent of the doctors had undergone personal risk assessment that NHS staff were supposed to receive.

Said Goddard: “One of the challenges we’ve got is that lots of groups are working on risk assessment tools. We’ve got to have a consistent approach across the NHS and social care sector so we’re not worried one group is getting a different assessment than others.”

More For You

Staying up late may speed up brain decline, researchers warn

A one-hour delay in sleep routine is linked to a sharper drop in cognition over time, the study found

iStock

Staying up late may speed up brain decline, researchers warn

A night owl, or an evening person with a late sleep-wake cycle, could be at a higher risk of cognitive decline with age compared to an early bird or a morning person, a study has found.

Chronotype refers to one’s sleep-wake type or times during the day when one naturally tends to be awake and asleep. A ‘night owl’ chronotype is said to have a later sleep-wake cycle, compared to an ‘early bird’ or a ‘lark’.

Keep ReadingShow less
Father’s Day

Father’s Day reflects a wide range of traditions shaped by history, culture and emotion

iStock

What Father’s Day means around the world: A celebration of presence over presents

Father’s Day is often seen as a time for cards, tools or a family lunch, but across the globe, it carries a much deeper significance. Beyond the commercial promotions, Father’s Day reflects a wide range of traditions shaped by history, culture and emotion. While some mark the occasion with grand gestures, others focus on quiet reflection, respect and the bonds that define fatherhood.

Thailand’s day of respect

In Thailand, Father’s Day is celebrated on 5 December, the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The day is as much about honouring the nation’s former monarch as it is about celebrating fatherhood. Citizens wear yellow, the king’s birth colour, and present canna lilies to their fathers as a symbol of gratitude and respect. It’s a cultural blend of familial and national reverence.

Keep ReadingShow less
Strong chance of Northern Lights in Hertfordshire after aurora alert

The alert is based on elevated geomagnetic activity levels

Getty Images

Strong chance of Northern Lights in Hertfordshire after aurora alert

A rare display of the aurora borealis was expected over Hertfordshire after a red alert was issued on Friday, 13 June, by space weather experts. The phenomenon, also known as the Northern Lights, is expected to be seen across large parts of the UK if conditions remain clear.

Red alert signals strong aurora activity

AuroraWatch UK, a monitoring service run by Lancaster University’s Space and Planetary Physics group, issued a red alert on Friday morning. According to the service, this means: “It is likely that aurora will be visible by eye and camera from anywhere in the UK.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Chef Sultan Al‑Mahmood Reveals Stress‑Free Cooking Tips

Chef Sultan Al-Mahmood from the Grande Restaurant in London

Instagram/ thegrande_stratford

MasterChef Sultan Al-Mahmood shares expert tips for stress-free cooking

It may be an essential life skill, but for many, cooking at home can feel intimidating – especially for beginners.

With the cost-of-living crisis, more people are choosing to prepare their own meals and experiment with dishes in their kitchens. Others, inspired by restaurant dishes, social media trends and the rise in home cooking during Covid-19, are now looking to improve their own culinary skills.

Keep ReadingShow less
How menopause makes south Asian women more vulnerable to diabetes

As we mark Diabetes Awareness Week (10–16 June), it’s time to shine a light on how disproportionately it affects south Asian women

iStock

Menopause & Diabetes Risk

Kiran Singh

We often talk about diabetes and menopause as two separate issues. But for many South Asian women in midlife, they collide quietly, invisibly, and with lasting impact.

As we mark Diabetes Awareness Week (10–16 June), it’s time to shine a light on this hidden overlap - and how it disproportionately affects women in our community.

Keep ReadingShow less