Introduction to a Problem
A high-ranking leader in the health service criticized the system and said that his mother received a "black service, no NHS service" when she died. The leader described the death of his mother as "unfounded". She was 92 years old and died of alleged lung cancer in January, although the cancer was only found after her death.
Missed Diagnosis and Sub-Standard Care
The leader said that his mother’s missed diagnosis, combined with the sub-standard care she received in the hospital, had angered his family and left them seeking answers. The family cannot understand why she didn’t get any cancer diagnosis, despite being in contact with the healthcare service regularly for the past five or six years due to her dementia. She was uncomfortable and in pain – and had been for some time.
Inequalities in the System
The leader believes that his mother’s experience illustrates greater problems, particularly inequalities in the system. He said, "It is the inverse care law. People who need the least health and care the least when they are black, when they are poor, when they are older and poor, there are inequalities in the system and people like my mother suffer." He emphasized that everyone, regardless of their background, should receive the best possible care.
A Committed, Caring Nurse
The mother was a nurse who emigrated from Nigeria to Britain in the 1950s and worked in hospitals, in the community, and in mental health services. She was a caring, compassionate, and intensely committed nurse who believed in the healthcare service. However, when she needed it, the service wasn’t there for her.
Symbol of a Wider Problem
The leader does not call for individual blame, saying that his mother’s experience was symbolic of a major problem. He thinks that there are too many situations where people like him look and do not get the care they should. He gave several examples of inequalities in the healthcare system, including research that showed younger black people waited an average of 20 minutes longer than white people in A&E.
Addressing Inequalities
The leader emphasized that addressing inequalities in the healthcare system requires leadership, not just money. He welcomed the promise of additional money for the health service but said that it alone would not solve the inequalities. He believes that tackling inequalities in the healthcare system is a systematic problem that requires a comprehensive approach.
