Abstract

Prehospital ambulance care is becoming more important as an increasingly
complex health system seeks to prevent avoidable admissions to hospital.
Inequalities in prehospital care for ethnic minority groups are underpinned by
problems of cultural awareness in professionals; language and
communication difficulties; and a limited understanding of how the healthcare
system operates for some minority groups.
These inequalities in the face of increasing diversity have elicited a range of
legislative and policy responses promoting equality.
Ambulance services can also employ a number of practical measures to
improve prehospital care for minority ethnic patients, including the collection
of patient ethnicity data; targeted interventions; improved cultural
competency; and better interpreting services.
Challenges in delivering these strategies still exist and providers should strive
to embed and improve measures to meet the needs of diverse communities.