More than 90 per cent of doctors and dentists that have died from Covid-19 are from ethnic minority backgrounds, an analysis has shown.
The Health Service Journal analysis of 106 deaths among healthcare workers found that 63 per cent of people that died were from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups. Those groups make up roughly 21 per cent of the workforce.
Out of the 35 nurses and midwives that have died, 71 per cent were from ethnic minority groups, despite BAME workers accounting for just a fifth of the workforce. Of 27 healthcare support workers that had died, 56 per cent were ethnic minorities. BAME groups account for just 17 per cent of the healthcare support workforce.
Of the 19 doctors and dentists that had died, 94 per cent were from ethnic minority groups. People from BAME groups make up 44 per cent of that workforce.
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The findings also showed that ethnic minority patients accounted for 34 per cent of those admitted to intensive care with Covid-19, but only 17 per cent of the UK population.
A separate analysis by the Guardian published last night showed that ethnic minority groups were dying in disproportionately high numbers compared to white people. The government launched an inquiry into the disproportionate impact of coronavirus on BAME communities last week.
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