Nottingham City Council is seeking the views of black and minority ethnic (BME) communities across Nottingham City to help the council fully understand the health needs of their population and how they can work with the council to make Nottingham a happier and healthier city.
Research by the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK and the British Medical Association shows that some health issues can affect BME groups disproportionately and it is hoped that these sessions will help local services provide the advice and support which these communities need. Conditions include:
- Heart Disease – If you are of a South Asian background, you may be at an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease, which could lead to a heart attack
- Heart Disease – If you are of an African Caribbean background, you may be more likely to have high blood pressure
- Diabetes – New research shows there has been a sharp rise in type 2 diabetes diagnosis in people from black minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds
- Prostate cancer – The chances of developing prostate cancer is more common in men over 50 years old and research has shown that it is more common in men from African, African Caribbean & Asian descent
- Mental health Illness – Evidence suggests that people from BME backgrounds have significantly more mental health problems than the White British population.
Nottingham City Council has a duty to provide health and social care services that are responsive to the needs of Nottingham’s diverse communities and where necessary are designed for groups who may be at greater risk of developing specific conditions.
It is important that the council increases its understanding of the health issues which affect these groups in Nottingham and to do this it needs to speak to individuals, groups and service providers from the city’s black minority ethnic communities.
Three focus group sessions will take place in June 2016 at venues across the city. Sessions will be held at:
- Bulwell Riverside Centre – 15 June 2016 from 10am to 12 pm
- Mary Potter Centre – 20 June 2016 from 10am to 12pm
- St Ann’s Valley Centre – 29 June 2016 from 9am to 11am
Free snacks and refreshments are available at the session, anyone who would like to attend one of the events can register online at www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/bmehaveyoursay or by calling 0115 876 4091.