KREC Kingston Race & Equality Council
Overview
As part of our programme we conducted an interactive escape room session titled “Breaking Barriers to Healthcare” aimed at educating participants on the inequalities in the UK healthcare system. The session provided an engaging and experiential learning environment where participants navigated different challenges highlighting real-life systemic barriers faced by minoritised communities.
Session Objectives:
Gather insights for the Anti-Racism Health & Care Report.
Identify key health inequalities affecting minoritised communities.
Facilitate discussions around holistic healthcare, including economic, political, social, and cultural barriers.
Explore participants’ experiences with healthcare services, the challenges they faced, and their suggestions for improvement.
Key Findings & Participant Insights
1. Language & Communication Barriers
A majority of participants highlighted the urgent need for more interpreters in healthcare settings.
One participant shared that a language barrier nearly cost a family member their life due to miscommunication with healthcare professionals.
2. Cultural Awareness & Recognition
More than half of the group stressed the need for healthcare professionals to have better knowledge and recognition of cultural medicinal practices.
Participants suggested integrating advice on cultural medicine alongside conventional treatments.
3. Long Waiting Times & Impact
Half of the group reported that excessive waiting times led to parents self-administering treatments to children due to lack of immediate access to medical professionals.
4. Barriers Leading to Avoidance of Healthcare Services
Less than half of the group admitted avoiding healthcare services due to:
Negative staff attitudes towards minoritised communities.
Language barriers preventing effective communication.
Cultural beliefs conflicting with mainstream healthcare practices.
Graphical Representation of Findings
(Refer to the attached bar chart for a visual breakdown of key issues identified during the session.)
Recommendations for Improvement
Increase availability of interpreters to ensure effective communication in healthcare settings.
Improve cultural competency training for healthcare professionals to acknowledge and integrate cultural medicinal practices.
Reduce waiting times through improved resource allocation, particularly in areas serving diverse communities.
Address systemic biases by fostering anti-racist policies and inclusive practices within healthcare institutions.
Conclusion
The session provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by minoritised communities in accessing healthcare. The discussions and findings will contribute to the Anti-Racism Health & Care Report, with the goal of advocating for policy changes and systemic improvements. We extend our gratitude to Kingston racial and equalities council for their funding, guidance & support & to all participants for their engagement and look forward to implementing meaningful solutions.
