Health outcomes of ethnic minorities living in cities explored in national report

Leading professors from the University of Leicester and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities in London have provided key recommendations in the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) annual report to enhance care for ethnic minority populations living in cities. 

This year’s CMO report focuses on health in cities, with Professor Kamlesh Khunti and Professor Kevin Fenton CBE leading a chapter on the experiences and challenges faced by ethnic minorities living in urban areas. 

Dr Cameron Razieh and Dr Ash Routen from the University of Leicester also contributed to the Chapter, with Dr Razieh conducting new analysis using the ONS data on cities and ethnic health. 

Professor Khunti, a Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester and the Co-Director of the Leicester Diabetes Centre, said: “Leading this chapter has been both a privilege and a critical opportunity to highlight the unique challenges faced by ethnic minority populations living in cities.

“Our team has worked diligently to provide evidence-based recommendations that address health disparities and enhance care for these communities.” 

Professor Fenton, the Regional Director at the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities in London and the Regional Director of Public Health at NHS London, said: “The fantastic collaboration between researchers and specialists from a variety of institutions demonstrated the innovative approaches and skills required to describe and explore the challenges faced by ethnic minorities in urban centres.

“Our findings confirm the magnitude and variations in the health challenges faced by these communities and highlight opportunities for tackling them.”

Cities present a range of health opportunities and challenges for the large and diverse populations that live in them. 

Despite the availability of multiple and specialist healthcare facilities which benefit many citizens, the CMO report shows that vaccination and screening uptake is lower and STI rates are higher in cities. 

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England, said: “Cities provide great opportunities for a healthier life but many, especially in areas of deprivation, have poor access to healthy food choices, exercise and are exposed to air pollution. These are soluble problems.

“People move frequently within cities which contain a diversity of population groups – the health system must adapt to them, not the other way around.”

He added: “There are many older citizens living in cities and it is important they are supported to live healthier lives. 

“Addressing the health challenges of cities requires a broad range of actions from policymakers, the NHS and individual citizens.”

Professor Whitty outlines a series of recommendations within the report to address health in cities, particularly for people living in areas of deprivation. These include action on risk factors such as obesity and air pollution, the food environment and healthcare service planning and delivery. 

The CMO’s reports have been released annually for over 150 years, providing an independent assessment of the state of the public’s health in England.