Thread by @NHS_RobW

1/n Some reflections on #BAME inequality #covid19 and #NHSBirthday. Today is the 72nd birthday of the #NHS - founded upon a set of principles that we hold dear of universal access to healthcare, free at the point of delivery at a time when the nation was impoverished due to war

2/n A few weeks earlier, the Empire #Windrush arrived in the UK bringing the first of the “windrush generation” to help rebuild Britain, including the new #NHS. Things were not quite as promised for them. bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00… #Covid19 #NHSBirthday #BAME

3/n I had the privilege of meeting around 100 #windrush nurses in #Leeds with the @BHILeeds and heard fantastic stories of their work building the #NHS, their pride in doing so and the struggles they had endured #NHSBirthday #BAME #Covid19

4/n The #NHS was built with this generation and we owe them a huge debt. The #NHS has come to define modern Britain according to @IpsosMORI and others. #COVID19 #BAME #NHSBirthday

5/n And the #NHS reflects modern Britain and #race inequality persists and cannot be denied in the #NHS as @yvonnecoghill1 eloquently states here nursingtimes.net/news/leadershi… #BAME #covid19 #NHSBirthday

6/n The #covid19 death toll has been disproportionately felt in our #BAME communities and has been revealing in terms of attitudes and responses. This has been equally felt by our staff gov.uk/government/pub… with more colleagues from #BAME communities affected #NHSBirthday

7/n So the people who came here on the #Windrush and thousands like them have faced decades of racial inequality in society and the #NHS. Having helped build the NHS in 1948 they are most at risk from #COVID19 in 2020. We owe them. theguardian.com/world/2020/jun… #NHSBirthday

8/n And I agree with @DrHNaqvi this is a time of celebration of the #NHSBirthday and reflection of how much more we need to do for our colleagues and communities of #BAME heritage #COVID19 We owe them.

9/n And @WYHpartnership we want to make sure all of the positive action we are taking on #inequality #BAME are good enough to deliver our big ambitions post #COVID19 Prof Dame Donna Kinnair is helping to make sure we do #NHSBirthday

https://twitter.com/WYHpartnership/status/1279016789511471105

10/n I am super #proud to work in the #NHS and to lead a partnership. At 5pm I will be clapping to say Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of health and care staff #NHSBirthday. And I will be clapping for a better future for colleagues and communities. We owe them #BAME #COVID19