Health Inequalities
We want to improve Somerset’s health care service for our ethnic diverse communities.
Working with Somerset’s diverse community and health/social care providers we want to improve their support and services. Addressing inequalities in both access and care for patients and professionals.
Our health is vital in every part of our lives, so it is important that we get the best experience and treatment available no matter where we are from or who we work for.
The challenges of inequality in health can take many forms within our diverse communities, barriers in understanding:
- cultural differences
- language
- unconscious bias
- micro-aggressions
- health disparities by ethnic background
- vaccination myths
These barriers can lead to lower uptake and engagement with health and social care, preventing access to health care, assumptions and some ‘normal’ practices can lead to misdiagnoses or late treatment.

Are you from an ethnically diverse community in Somerset?
Please share your experience of the health care service and complete our online Survey!

Listen back to our Health Inequalities project on BBC Somerset!

Michal and Kirsten were interviewed about the online survey and the issues facing our ethnically diverse communities. Listen at 1:09:05 – 1:15:17 in the recording.
Watch our short video:
Meet Liz Johnson-Idan talking about the project supporting ethnically diverse communities in Somerset.
If you have experiences or a story to tell about how this has affected you please get in touch with Kirsten so that together we can make a difference for the future.
Kirsten Rushby
Call 07971024496
or email: kirstenr@somersetrcc.org.uk
Resources
We have collected a wealth of information, advice, links and resources to support our diverse communities with Mental Health, Sexual Health, Domestic Abuse and Vaccinations. Click to download your copy.
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