We are an independent expert body, established by the NHS to examine the health inequalities experienced by Black and minority ethnic communities in England. We work as a proactive investigator by actioning evidence and insight, providing evidence-based health policy recommendations, and facilitating long-term transformational change across health and care. We are data and evidence-driven, as well as factual and solution-focused.
We are supported by NHS England and hosted by the NHS Confederation.
Our independence is important to us. To effectively tackle race inequality in health and social care, individuals and policymakers need to be confident in the objectivity of our analyses and recommendations, and in our freedom to determine our own priorities.
The Observatory is guided by no other agenda than its own. We can scrutinise the health and care system from a distance but remain well positioned to advise on areas for improvement.
We will be guided not by politics, but by research and evidence. We will respond to what the evidence tells us and make recommendations that will serve those we are here to help.
We will not shy away from difficult conversations, and we remain open to challenge and debate. Our processes for funding will be transparent and any work we produce will be made available free of charge to all.
We will make genuine community engagement a requirement of all funding opportunities and commissioned research. We will remain open to engaging with new evidence and responding to new areas of concern.
We will ensure that our work has tangible and sustained impact on reducing ethnic health inequalities. It is vital that the work of the Observatory goes beyond research and leads to genuine change.
Closing the gap on ethnic health inequalities through research, innovation, and evidence-based recommendations for practice.
The NHS Race and Health Observatory is overseen by a Board of members, chaired by Marie Gabriel CBE.
The day-to-day management of the NHS Race and Health Observatory is organised by a Senior Management Team led by its Chief Executive, Dr Habib Naqvi MBE.
The Academic Reference Group is in place to support the Observatory’s function of facilitating and reviewing high-quality and innovative research evidence. Following their expert insight, planned policy recommendations for future change for the NHS health system will be proposed.