COVID 19 and BAME health care staff: Wrong place at the wrong time

Abstract

O f the 1.2 million staff employed by NHS, 20.7% belong to Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background. However, analysis of deaths of NHS Staff during the pandemic shows that 64% of those who died belonged to BAME background. A recent survey about this disproportionately high mortality has suggested discriminatory deployment of staff from non-white ethnic background in areas with potentially high virus exposure as a reason. We have looked at factors to explain this heavy presence of medical staff from BAME background at the front door. Moreover, we have studied mortality data related to COVID-19 and analysed it against population demographics of corresponding areas of west midlands, to highlight any trends. This has revealed a higher mortality form COVID 19 in cohorts with higher percentage of BAME population.