Count me in 2008: Results of the 2008 national census of inpatients in mental health and learning disability services in England and Wales This valuable document
containing comparable analysis across the full range of ethnic data (including
the Irish data). The commentary/analysis identifies
significant examples of overrepresentation or underrepresentation across the
range of ethnic groups.
You can locate the Irish data quickly by choosing 'Select All' within the 'Edit' menu and then by selecting 'Find' within the 'Edit' menu, and by then typing 'Irish' in the activated 'Find' box on the screen, as most of you will know. But don't just look at the Irish data in isolation. Seek to understand how it relates to the other ethnic data, in order to understand how the Irish data stands relatively to the other data. This will help you to neither overstate or understate the case you are making.
The report urges on Government agencies and commissioners and providers of services, the need to engage effectively with voluntary agencies, minority ethnic communities and the people who use the services themselves; and this national census aims to encourage providers of health services to implement procedures for the comprehensive recording and monitoring of data on the ethnic group of patients.
This can be a useful tool in your work of advocacy vis a vis your local authority and local voluntary sector partners (or potential partners), including the local BAME sector.