The BME (Black and Ethnic Minority) Health Forum for Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster has been awarded funding to implement the “Good Practices for Access and Well-being” Programme. This work consists of two phases:

1. Commissioning and co-ordinating six community-based projects aimed to improve access to primary care services for people from local BME  communities

2. Working with four GP and two dental practices to improve these structures and pilot new mechanisms for obtaining feedback from BME patients/communities.

The aims of this programme are to improve access to primary care services for BME communities through working with primary care providers (GPs and dentists) and BME communities to develop and publicise good practice for better access to services.

In 2006, a report entitled “Minding the gaps– Are BME partners or substitutes in health provision?” identified access to GPs’ surgeries as an area of serious concern for BME communities in Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster. In 2007, the Department of Health also found that levels of satisfaction with GPs services were generally lower around the country for BME communities.

For more information on the programme, or to tender for one of the six community– based projects contact Amjad Taha at the BME Forum:
Amjad.Taha@westminster-pct.nhs.uk