This meeting took place on 14 January 2015. Read the transcript for the first section here and the second section here.
London’s 40 per cent Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) population – who have higher rates of mental health problems than the white population – are more likely to have adverse experiences within mental health care.[1] The Black African and Caribbean community is disproportionately represented in the mental health system, particularly at crisis stage. They experience considerable barriers, more so than other groups, when attempting to access support and services. Why are BME people, particularly those from Black African and Caribbean backgrounds more susceptible to ill mental health? What challenges do they face in accessing mental health care and support? How can the Mayor support improved access to services for BME people? From 2:00pm, the London Assembly Health Committee will tomorrow question the following guests:
Marcel Vige, Head of Equality Improvement, Mind (National)
Earl Pennycooke, Co-Interim Director, Mind (Lambeth and Southwark)
Risq Animasaun, BME Mental Health Community Development Worker, Croydon BME Forum
Dr Dele Olajide, Consultant Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
The second section of the meeting will focus on the challenges A&E services face in London. From 4:00pm (approx.), the following guests will be questioned:
Dr Anne Rainsberry, Regional Director for London, NHS England
Dr Julian Redhead, Chair, London Regional Board, College of Emergency Medicine
Kathryn Channing, Clinical Lead Emergency Medicine, Croydon Healthcare NHS Trust
Christopher Pocklington, Chief Operating Officer, London North West Healthcare NHS Trust
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, 14 January from 2.00pm in The Chamber at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1). The meeting will take place on Wednesday, 14 January from 2.00pm in The Chamber at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1). Media and members of the public are invited to attend. The meeting can also be viewed via webcast. Notes for Editors:
Dr Onkar Sahota AM, Chair of the Health Committee is available for interview. See contact details below
As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Lisa Lam on 020 7983 4067. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.