NHS Urged to Address Racial Inequities After Lord Adebowale's Criticism Over Mother's Care

June 13, 2025
NHS Urged to Address Racial Inequities After Lord Adebowale's Criticism Over Mother's Care
  • Prof. Habib Naqvi of the NHS Race and Health Observatory echoed Adebowale's concerns, advocating for improved patient care specifically for black communities.

  • The NHS has been approached for comment regarding these serious allegations of racial disparities in healthcare.

  • While Adebowale refrained from naming the specific NHS service involved, he emphasized that his mother's case symbolizes a larger problem rather than attributing blame to individuals.

  • Adebowale called for leadership and comprehensive strategies to address these systemic issues, asserting that merely increasing funding will not suffice.

  • Kate Seymour from Macmillan Cancer Support highlighted that individuals from ethnically diverse backgrounds frequently endure longer wait times for cancer diagnoses, further underscoring systemic healthcare access issues.

  • Lord Adebowale noted that his mother faced significant pressure upon her hospital admission, which points to systemic issues within NHS resources and care.

  • Research shows that black British mothers are four times more likely to die during or shortly after childbirth compared to their white counterparts, illustrating the severe impact of these inequalities.

  • Additionally, younger black patients face longer waiting times in emergency departments, and those from poorer backgrounds often experience significant delays in receiving routine treatments.

  • Lord Victor Adebowale, chair of the NHS Confederation, has publicly criticized the NHS for the inadequate care provided to his mother, Grace Adebowale, who died at the age of 92 from undiagnosed lung cancer.

  • Despite being in contact with health services due to her dementia, Grace Adebowale's cancer diagnosis was only discovered post-mortem, highlighting serious lapses in care.

  • Adebowale stated that his mother received what he termed a 'black service,' which reflects the systemic racial inequalities prevalent in healthcare.

  • He emphasized that his mother's experience is not an isolated incident, but rather indicative of broader issues regarding racial disparities in healthcare access and treatment.

Summary based on 2 sources


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