'Disproportionate' number of BAME coronavirus deaths among NHS workers

A "disproportionate" percentage of healthcare staff who have died from coronavirus are from ethnic minority backgrounds, research has suggested.

Figures were analysed by three experts including anaesthetist Tim Cook, who is an honorary professor at the University of Bristol.

Their analysis, published in the Health Service Journal, looked at demographics of 106 patients in the NHS, dental or care professions who have sadly not survived COVID-19.

They found in 63 per cent of cases, the patient was of BAME (black and minority ethnic) backgrounds, despite the demographic being in the minority of NHS staff generally.

Nurse Thomas Harvey, a father-of-seven, died after treating a coronavirus patient (PA)

The researchers concluded there had been a "disproportionately high rate of BAME individuals among those who have died".

Commenting on Twitter, Prof Cook, who is based in Bath, said: "Ours is indeed a limited dataset with flaws. But the best we could construct.

"We need a dataset that is bigger, better, complete."

(top row left to right) nurse Rebecca Mack, nurse Alice Kit Tak Ong, nurse Thomas Harvey, Dr Habib Zaidi and consultant Amged El-Hawrani. (Bottom row left to right) consultant geriatrician Anton Sebastianpillai, Doctor Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, surgeon Jitendra Rathod, Dr Fayez Ayache and patient discharge planner Barbara Moore. (PA/PA Wire)

Widespread concerns have been raised about the number of BAME people dying from coronavirus, which appears to be disproportionate to the rest of the population.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted on Thursday: "It is extremely concerning to see the disproportionate toll coronavirus is taking on our BAME communities.

"We cannot afford to treat this as an issue to investigate once the crisis is over. We must address it now."

The government has confirmed that it will be investigating the impact that coronavirus is having on ethnic minorities.