New Black health team at London's largest hospital looks to improve care for patients

The London Health Sciences Centre has formed a Black health team after hearing from patients, staff and students about discrimination in a system that hasn't always put their specific needs first. 

The hospital network created the new team in May to address challenges and improve training. 

"The Black health team is really about building capacity," said Cathy Wood, senior director of Black Health. "It's about education and training, it's about building awareness for Black health equity, it's really about showing Londoners our commitment to health equity for Black individuals."

She explains that Black people may be reluctant to seek care in a healthcare system that doesn't always affirm their concerns or makes them feel like they belong. 

"We know that some black individuals have experienced harm and have a lack of trust in the healthcare system. As well, as there are specific medical conditions that are prevalent within black populations that can be a research focus to improve health outcomes," Wood said.

A similar team at LHSC has also been created to focus on Indigenous needs, and the two groups are working collaboratively. 

The Black health team was born after ten major recommendations from A Black Health Plan for Ontario were published last year. The plan outlines critical calls to action to dismantle health inequity across Canada. 

The report highlights that "the increased rates and huge impacts of COVID-19 in Ontario's Black population" exposed the pre-existing systemic discrimination the Black community has continually faced. 

Kwame McKenzie is a psychiatrist and CEO of the Wellesley Institute in Toronto. He was also one of the co-chairs of the Black health plan.

"Before COVID, we knew that Black populations in Ontario had higher rates of a number of illnesses and we also knew that people were less likely to get care, less likely to have a family doctor, less likely to get referred to a hospital for some illnesses and worse outcomes," said McKenzie. 

He added that if a Black patient has diabetes, the lack of access to a health professional and proper care may lead to more serious health complications as a result.

"So there were all of these things already happening and then of course, if you get disruptions because of COVID, that makes things worse," said McKenzie.

According to Wood, the overall goal of the Black health team is to make all feel welcome and give patients the best help to their capacity.

"We want every individual, every person within London who requires care at LHSC to feel safe, to seek out that care within LHSC."