The world leading research team has been commissioned by Health Education England (HEE) to investigate and understand the barriers and facilitators in the uptake of healthcare related training courses.

Dr Nasreen Ali, Chief Investigator for the study at the University said: "We look forward to working with a range of different communities in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire to assess how we can encourage greater diversity in NHS workforce." 

The team will speak to a range of healthcare students, staff and members of the public from different communities to investigate the specific needs of under-represented groups within the NHS.

Katie Adams, Programme Lead for Widening Participation at HEE commented: "Health Education England exists to improve the quality of care for patients by ensuring we have enough staff with the right skills, values and behaviours available for employment by providers.

“As part of our role, we have leadership responsibility for promoting equality, diversity and enabling widening participation in relation to the development of the current and future healthcare workforce."

She also noted: "HEE has supported the commissioning of research and evaluation which focuses on the specific needs of underrepresented groups, including those from less advantaged socio economic backgrounds. HEE is determined to develop a rich understanding of barriers to application, recruitment and progression for disadvantaged groups within healthcare education programmes."

Professor Gurch Randhawa, Professor of Diversity in Public Health at the University, and co-investigator on the study said: "We are privileged to be working with HEE on this very important area of policy and practice. If the NHS is going to offer culturally competent services, then we need a step-change in tackling diversity issues among the NHS workforce."