Well joins with Prof Mahendra Patel to asses risks to BAME staff

Well Pharmacy has joined forces with senior academic and pharmacist Professor Mahendra Patel to assess risks to its black Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) staff.

The pharmacy chain also aims to explore how community pharmacy can improve healthcare services for the disadvantaged groups through the initiative.

The company said it is carrying out personal risk assessments for its teams following the recent NHS recommendations.

“With the BAME community highlighted in the NHS’ research as being at higher risk, we have sought Professor Patel’s insight to help make sure we approach this correctly so that we get the meaningful data we need through this process,” said Jacqueline Lunardi, people director at Well.

Based at the University of Bradford, Professor Patel specialises in health inequalities associated with BAME and disadvantaged groups.

“Often, those in the BAME communities have a different outlook on healthcare,” he commented.

“How you reach out and ask the right questions has to be carefully considered to make sure you get open and meaningful replies. I’d urge any company who is carrying out a risk assessment for their BAME colleagues to thoroughly consider their approach to make sure that this doesn’t just turn into a tick box exercise.”

Well hopes to involve its BAME staff members in the structure of the assessments, and any follow-up measures, to make sure that its employees are safe at their workplace during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pharmacy group is also planning to enlist Professor Patel’s support in ensuring culturally sensitive health messaging and improving the collection of better health information, within BAME and disadvantaged groups.

“We want to explore with Professor Patel what we can do differently and more effectively, and how we can reach out to those who may not be adequately receiving the health and wellbeing advice and support that’s available,” commented Janice Perkins, pharmacy superintendent at Well.

“There may be many reasons for this, and we want to explore these and understand how we can help overcome them.”