Urgent action needed on BAME workforce risk assessments

Urgent action needed on BAME workforce risk assessments: According to a new survey from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and the UK Black Pharmacists Association (UKBPA), more than two-thirds of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) pharmacists working in primary care and hospitals still have not yet had potentially lifesaving COVID-19 workplace risk assessments months after the NHS said they should take place.

The same survey reveals that 78% of black pharmacists and pharmacy students believe they are at risk of COVID-19 and changes to their working practices are required. This is compared to 67% of white colleagues.

These findings come nearly two months after the NHS said employers should risk-assess staff at potentially greater risk – a recommendation reinforced in a report from Public Health England last week on the impact of COVID-19 on BAME groups.

Both RPS and UKBPA have already called for individual risk assessments to be mandatory for BAME staff and intend to run the survey again in a month’s time to check if there has been any improvement. The RPS and UKBPA have also written to government equalities ministers across Great Britain calling for support for BAME pharmacists and team members.

RPS President Sandra Gidley said:

“It’s shocking that pharmacists, especially colleagues from BAME backgrounds, are telling us they have still not been risk assessed. Employers must take urgent action to address this and ensure that pharmacists and their teams can continue looking after patients safely.

“It is essential that pharmacy teams are properly assessed so that those at high risk can be supported to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, while still providing a vital service to the NHS and the public. Lessons are to be learned from this pandemic, especially with the risk of a second wave, and we now need action so our BAME workforce is protected.”

UKBPA President Elsy Gomez Campos said:

“It is concerning to hear that pharmacy colleagues are still waiting for a COVID-19 risk assessment. Pharmacy staff need to feel safe if they are going to do their job without fear or anxiety. We now know that COVID-19 has negatively affected the BAME population the most, including health and care staff.

“This is the time to look after each other and to look after everyone. Our profession must rise to the challenge and respond to call to risk assess pharmacy staff. In a month’s time, the survey results must be very different from what we see today.”