Are opportunities still limited for black and minority ethnic staff in health care leadership?

Are opportunities still limited for black and minority ethnic staff in health care leadership? I was recently asked to chair a round-table event for the Health Service Journal on ethnic diversity and equality in health care leadership.

Out of interest I researched the origin of the term ‘round-table’ and discovered that it came from a speech made by HRH Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, to the British Industries Fair in 1927. He urged ‘young business and professional men… to get together round the table and adopt methods that have proved sound in the past, adapt them to changing needs and wherever possible, improve them’. Setting aside the gender focus of the original use, I would like to reflect on issues that were discussed at this particular round-table event in 2016 – namely what leaders in the NHS can adopt, adapt and improve to enable black and minority ethnic (BME) staff to achieve their potential as leaders. The King's Fund