Minister backs body to stamp out racism

The government has confirmed it will ensure all mental health staff
will receive training about race issues, following a recommendation
in the report into David Bennett’s death.

A review set up to tackle racism in mental health, co-chaired by
health minister Rosie Winterton, met for the first time last week
.

It will be the most comprehensive programme ever to improve the
mental health of ethnic minorities, Winterton told a conference
organised by the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health last week.
“This inequality has to stop. We are not delivering the fair and
equitable service people from black and minority communities
demand, need or deserve,” she added.

The report, published in February, concluded there was
institutional racism in the health service.