Patient Public Involvement Forum

The Patient Public Involvement Forum is a forum of health workers managers and public (service users) that meets in Colchester, to help deliver a ?patient led NHS.?

They discuss experiences of people using health services.

As a patient you can get involved if you have any experiences that affected your treatment that you would like to share, so that people from your community or with similar experiences can benefit.

They will be collecting the experiences of black and minority ethnic people until December 2007.

They are keen to learn about the needs of black and minority ethnic people by listening to their experiences. For example information on diseases which are relevant to ethnicity such as diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

If you want to get involved contact Vibha on: 01206 871925
 

How Diet Affects Black & Minority Ethnic People in Tendring & Colchester

When we eat culturally specific foods we need to consider effects on health due to climate, availability etc.

Example - Vegetarian diet lacking in Vitamin B and Iron

For example the Gujarati vegetarian food is very balanced. However, eating foods such as white flour, white sugar and greater use of salt can lead to lack of nutrients, affect blood pressure and cause anaemia.

Tip: Include plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds in your diet wherever possible. Choose wholemeal breads and supplement your diet with linseeds which are high in Omega 3. Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables for Iron.
 

Example - Replacing High Cholesterol Foods & Red Meat with Fish & Vegetables

The Bangladeshi diet which was traditionally based on fish and fresh vegetables has been replaced with greater use of red meats (often of poor quality.)

Tip: Visit local farmers markets for good quality fresh produce and meats. Freshly caught fish can be found in local seaside towns.

Negative Health Effects

• Higher cases of heart disease, anaemia, diabetes and incontinence.

• Low levels of fitness due to lack of exercise

• Mental health issues that affect Black and Minority Ethnic people such as depression which is made worse due to social and cultural isolation.

Tips to Improve Your Health

• Get plenty of exercise; walking, swimming, yoga, etc. (Consult your doctor before taking up exercise.)

• Pay attention to buying locally grown produce for maintaining good health.

• Join community groups such as TACMEP's monthly drop-ins to make new friends in your area. Get involved with volunteering.

TACMEP can help by putting you in contact with relevant people who can provide professional advice. We also offer advice about patient choice.

Useful Links

Diabetes UK

www.diabetes.org.uk

National Stroke Association

www.stroke.org

British Heart Foundation

www.bhf.org.uk

Sickle Cell Society

www.sicklecellsociety.org

For advice on finding a GP

www.nhs.uk

See also the Government Paper (PDF)

Food Safety, Choice and Nutrition Issues of Ethnic Minority Communities

Article by Jane Thomas - Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, King?s College London

Nutrition Intervention in Ethnic Minority Groups

Minority Ethnic Communities & Health - Some Facts & Figures

• Death rates from coronary heart disease among those aged under 65 and born on the Indian Subcontinent are more than 50 per cent higher than the average for England and Wales

• Deaths rates from stroke among those aged under 65 years are nearly twice as great among those born in the Caribbean as the England and Wales average

• Perinatal mortality rates among Pakistani-born mothers are nearly twice the UK national average

• Sickle cell disease occurs most commonly in the African and African-Caribbean population

• Incidence of schizophrenia may be three to six times higher among African-Caribbean groups compared to the indigenous population.

Source:

Department of Health