More should be done to support the career progression of black and minority ethnic (BME) doctors, healthcare leaders have warned.
The British Medical Association (BMA) and NHS Employers have agreed to lobby the government, after drawing up a joint list of priorities.
The organisations agreed:
• The importance of staff, associate specialist and specialty doctor posts should be recognised and respected.
• Organisations should support research into how the NHS medical workforce is evolving in terms of ethnicity.
• All interested parties should ensure they engage with grassroots BME doctors to ‘ensure that doctors’ perspectives are central to any activities’.
The memorandum states: “[We agree to] work together to support BME doctors in their career progression, focused on identifying and implementing positive solutions to overcome the barriers they face.”
“[We agree to] lobby the Governments on the importance of ensuring that BME doctors do not face obstacles in their career progression, and International Medical Graduates are valued for serving the NHS at times of shortage of UK trained doctors.”
The General Medical Council has also agreed to support the memorandum, which is available to view on the BMA website.
Other organisations involved include the British International Doctors Association, the Medical Association of Nigerians across Great Britain, and the British Pakistani Doctors Forum.
