The planned measure is to shield BAME workers from an alleged “disproportionate” death toll.
Chief Operating Officer for NHS England and Chief Executive Officer for NHS Improvement, issued a directive warning that “Emerging UK and international data suggest that people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are also being disproportionately affected by Covid-19”.
According to the Chief Operating Officer, the NHS will “risk-assess staff at potentially greater risk and make appropriate arrangements” essentially suggesting that BAME staff be replaced with native white Britons in the fight against the virus.
The Guardian reported that ethnic minority personnel will “be redeployed to areas or services where they would have less chance of becoming infected” and “given priority for testing if they develop symptoms”.
But the alleged BAME death toll has not yet been shown to be “disproportionate” given that ethnic minorities are highly represented among NHS staff, more so than in the general population. Also, in London, a Covid-19 hotspot, ethnic minorities are over-represented.
The Royal College of Surgeons has told Sky News it supported the call for BAME staff to be removed from the front line and added that easing the lockdown now would put “intolerable pressure” on NHS healthcare workers.
A report commissioned by UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock on the ethnic breakdown of Covid-19 fatalities is expected soon.