QOF Plus Year 1 - Imperial College London

Degree of perceived support from professionalsThere is strong professional consensus from the BMA, RCGP and GMC for the principles of codingethnicity and first language. Soljak et al. (2007) comment that “there is a high level of awarenessof the importance of ethnicity as a disease risk factor, and many practices appear to be usingethnicity as an indicator of risk for clinical management purposes already”.Degree of perceived support from patients and carersThere is support from a number of patient organisations including Diabetes UK for the principlesof coding of ethnicity and first language.It is important to note that ethnic monitoring still arouses suspicion for some people who maysee the process as a means of further discriminating against them. The reasons for ethnicmonitoring should, therefore, be carefully explained, and analyses and decisions, based on theresults of ethnic monitoring, should be openly shared (DoH, 2007).Impact on health inequalitiesCollecting, analysing and using data on ethnic group will enable comparison of “uptake of servicesbetween different groups to ensure fairness in allocation of resources and delivery of servicesaccording to needs and, where appropriate, to address health inequalities experienced byparticular ethnic groups” (DoH, 2007). This process will be enhanced further by the collection andanalysis of data on first language.Ethnic monitoring and data collection of ethnicity and first language are essential steps towardsensuring that the NHS provides equity of access, delivery and outcomes for all service users.Health impactEthnic monitoring and data collection on ethnicity and first language will“…contribute to assessments of individuals' needs and circumstances, thereby ensuringthat access to services and service delivery can be as personalised and appropriate aspossible. For example, insights into a person's ethnic background - or the ethnicbackground of their family - may assist with diagnosis. Information about a person's mainspoken language and competency in English could indicate a need for translation andinterpreting services.” (DoH, 2007)The process will also “assist with the clinical management of patients as the prevalence andcourse of many conditions varies by ethnicity” (DoH, 2007).54