Push to improve minorities' care

Researchers at the Mary Seacole Research Centre of De Montfort University are developing a training module to help healthcare professionals better serve ethnic minority groups.

"It is clear from our research that black and ethnic minority patients feel they are not getting quality care," said Mel Chevannes, professor of nursing at De Montfort. "Many qualified staff are doing good things, but many others feel they are floundering in certain areas."

With funding from a National Health Service regional education and development group, a cross-section of health professionals has been drafted in to help researchers compile the 13-week long module. "We need to make sure that the module covers all healthcare specialisms. It will probably be very practice-based," Professor Chevannes said.

If the module is developed successfully and implemented in the healthcare community, it could possibly be integrated into undergraduate training courses.