The government accepts this recommendation. The government recognises the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and it is committed to tackling health inequalities. This was reflected in the government’s response to Part 1 of the independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities report.42 As part of the levelling up agenda, the government will consider how it can reduce health inequalities and ensure that the needs of specific groups are addressed. This includes continued action to improve outcomes and reduce disparities for people from ethnic minority backgrounds in areas such as healthcare access, quality of care, and health promotion. As part of the ‘Living with COVID-19’ strategy the government has committed to addressing health disparities and inequalities. The government recognises that health inequalities existed before the pandemic and have been exacerbated as a result of it. The government is working across multiple departments, with local government and the voluntary sector to address these health inequalities in a sustained and meaningful way. DHSC continues to work across government to address the wider determinants of health, including poverty, housing, education and employment, to reduce health inequalities and improve population health outcomes. For example, the government’s ‘Levelling Up’ white paper43 sets out the government’s ambition to improve health and wellbeing across the country, including by reducing the gap in healthy life expectancy between the highest and lowest performing areas. To support this the government is investing in programmes that address the root causes of ill health and promote healthy lifestyles. The government is committed to reducing health inequalities and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilling life. NHS England and NHS Improvement continue to take specific action to tackle healthcare inequalities including: ● Since 2018, NHS England has commissioned targeted work to tackle health inequalities in specific areas such as mental health, cancer, and diabetes. ● NHS England’s Advancing Mental Health Equalities Taskforce brings together experts from across the NHS, government, and the voluntary sector to develop a plan to improve mental health outcomes for people from ethnic minority backgrounds. ● As part of its COVID-19 response, NHS England has developed guidance for local health systems on how to support people from ethnic minority backgrounds who are at increased risk from the virus. ● NHS England is working with community and faith leaders to promote vaccination and tackle misinformation about vaccines among ethnic minority communities. ● NHS England has launched a new programme to train healthcare professionals on how to provide culturally competent care to people from ethnic minority backgrounds. ● NHS England has been working to ensure that the NHS workforce is representative of the communities it serves and has taken steps to improve recruitment and retention of staff from ethnic minority backgrounds. Work in train to support improvements in board representation includes formalised staff networks as part of local decision-making processes. Work is in train with organisations like the Seacole Group and the Disabled NHS Directors Network in order to identify and develop talent to improve board representation of under-represented groups. ● NHS England also has in train a range of work at a national level that looks to support colleagues from ethnic minority backgrounds to speak up, and improve speaking up overall. One particular strand involves work across London to develop a resource pack and programme of support to deal with poor behaviour where this is witnessed by bystanders, and this, known as Active Bystander training, is being rolled out this year. To further support members of staff from ethnic minority backgrounds of staff, a specific inclusive and EDI-focused Health and Wellbeing offer is being developed, in addition to the aspects of the current offer specifically tailored for staff from people from ethnic minority backgrounds. NHS England also has in train a range of work at a national level that looks to support colleagues from ethnic minority backgrounds to speak up, and improve speaking up overall. ● NHS England continues to invest in developing and growing its ethnic minority staff networks. In 2021 to 2022, NHS England reached out to systems and Trusts to gain a baseline assessment of staff network maturity within their organisation, and are currently developing a Staff Network Maturity Framework to provide systems with an insight into actions that they can take to improve and embed effective and empowered staff networks. NHS England is also working on introducing a Staff Network Chair development programme, drawing on positive practice, to ensure that staff networks continue developing consistently and providing an equitable experience for staff from ethnic minor