Ethnicity will assist NHS

MORE patients in Lothian have their ethnicity recorded than in any other region of Scotland, new figures have shown.

NHS Lothian topped the table among the country’s 14 health boards in the area, with a rate of 92.1 per cent – well above the national average of 74.9 per cent.

Health boards are encouraged to monitor the area as certain conditions can affect ethnic groups in different ways, while data is also used to ensure there is no discrimination and to better understand minority groups.

James Glover, NHS Lothian’s head of equality and diversity, said: “This information helps us to plan our services more appropriately, ensuring that we deliver the best possible health services for the whole of the population.”