CReD 

Recording patient Ethnicity information in Ambulance call-out documentation: a qualitative interview Study with Operational NHS ambulance staff

It is a legal requirement for NHS ambulance trusts to collect patient ethnicity data, and improvements are needed as current adherence is poor. This study aims to interview frontline NHS ambulance staff in England, like paramedics or technicians, who complete ambulance call out documentation to explore the perceived barriers in this specific staff group to collecting this information. It is important to understand these barriers because the lack of patient ethnicity data in ambulance call-out documentation makes it difficult to monitor if health inequalities due to ethnicity exist. Health inequalities are unfair and avoidable difference in health, like when it was reported during the covid19 pandemic that black, Asian and minority ethnic groups were at higher risk of infection, severe symptoms, and death. This link was only found due to routine collection of patient ethnicity data. This study will look for volunteers across up to 10 NHS ambulance services in England who work in frontline roles, specifically those who have face-to-face contact with patients calling 999 and complete ambulance call-out documentation as a result. The study will aim to recruit 20 participants between February and July 2025. Participants will be asked to attend a 60- minute interview online using MS Teams.

What are the challenges raised by frontline NHS ambulance staff to recording ethnicity data?

Qualitative Interview Study

2025-02-01

2025-07-31

College of Paramedics

United Kingdom

ad1040@exeter.ac.uk

Alexander Diffley;