Marie Curie responds to Public Health England report on BAME deaths from COVID-19

Marie Curie responds to a Public Health England report, released this week, which said that black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people are at a higher risk of catching and dying from COVID-19 than white ethnic groups.

Mathew Reed, the Chief Executive at Marie Curie, said:

“At Marie Curie we want everyone in the UK to have the best possible experience of death, dying and bereavement. We understand the reasons why different diagnoses, deprivation and age affect access to end of life care and support but when it comes to BAME people, there is a lack comprehensive information and knowledge.

“The Government report yesterday further highlights just how systemic this issue is. While it is clear that BAME people are dying in higher rates from Covid-19, the reasons why still remain unclear. This lack of clarity has serious consequences for BAME people and their loved ones.

“We share in many people’s disappointment that this report merely backed up what we already knew, didn’t help us understand why and, significantly, did not offer any guidance or recommendations to help BAME people protect themselves from a virus that is disproportionately killing them.

“Understanding how and why people die is vital. Without knowing this, we can’t fully address health inequality in this country and support people to have a good death.

“As a charity, we know that we need to do much better to understand BAME people’s end of life experience and the experience of their bereaved loved ones.

“We await the further investigations into BAME Covid-19 deaths that the Government has promised. We cannot overstate enough the need for this to be done swiftly and with the full attention, focus and alacrity it needs. Not doing this would be a disgrace.”