title: Ethnic groups and our healthier nation: whither the information base?
abstract: The Government has made the health of minority ethnic groups a central part of its programme to reduce social exclusion and inequalities in health provision. It has also given a commitment in its 'contract for health' to provide the information that is needed to address inequalities, stating that it will be able to draw on a range of data sources, including mortality statistics, cancer registrations, hospital episode data, and general practitioner data. In reality, only one of these is a potential source of comprehensive information on minority ethnic groups and the information base needed to support Government policies is essentially unavailable. Priorities for further action are identified.
authors.affiliation: South East Institute of Public Health, United Medical and Dental School of Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Aspinall
mesh_terms: D002423:Cause of Death; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012947:Social Work / Q000639:trends; D006113:United Kingdom; D014798:Vital Statistics