A Worcester GP has called for apologies to be made after it was found that white medics had better access to PPE than black and Asian staff during the pandemic.

This comes after a damning government report concluded that serious errors and delays led to "many thousands of deaths which could have been avoided" during the pandemic.

As part of the same report, MPs found that NHS staff from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities had been put at greater risk because they did not have equal levels of access to appropriate and useable personal protective equipment as their white colleagues.

MPs called the findings "unacceptable" and said it was "notable" that the first 10 NHS employees to die from Covid-19 were from BAME backgrounds.

Staff from BAME communities make up one fifth of the NHS and social care workforce.

And Dr Jason Seewoodhary, a Worcester GP, has said that the NHS must do better to safeguard those who have worked "heroically" during the pandemic.

He said: "Working in the NHS is a privilege and honour - it affords the enormous benefit of being able to learn from staff who come from all over the world with their own unique experiences that has enriched and enhanced my training as a doctor - the NHS truly is the 'United Nations'. 

"As a doctor who entered medical school 24 years ago, I’ve worked alongside and learnt from colleagues from every continent.

"These doctors and nurses have worked tirelessly and heroically to save the lives of members of our community.

"Leading on from this, it’s tragic and extremely concerning that an inquiry report from BAPIO (British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin) has found that during the Covid-19 pandemic, Caucasian medics had better access to PPE compared to medics from BAME backgrounds.

"Everyone in the NHS must be treated equally, fairly, justly and equitably at all times.

"I would urge all healthcare leaders and staff within the NHS and associated organisations to have a long hard look at the findings of this inquiry, engage in a considered period of supported reflection, and promptly implement robust measures to safeguard equality for all members of staff within the NHS to ensure this never happens again and that lessons are learnt.

"Where necessary, apologies should be made and, where necessary, those responsible must be held accountable through appropriate regulatory and disciplinary proceedings."