There are increasing amounts of documented evidence that Black and Ethnic Minority (BME) NHS staff are more likely to face exclusion and discrimination. The MWRES- Medical Workforce Race Equality Standards Report details the disadvantages faced by BME doctors in the NHS. This piece of work shows a strategy to support doctors of African and Caribbean origin working in HPFT. Launched in 2021, the HPFT African and Caribbean Doctors Buddy Group (ACDBG) is a group for all doctors of any grade working in HPFT from African and Caribbean backgrounds. The group aims to bring together doctors of these backgrounds to build a group of clinicians who advocate for equity for African and Caribbean patients and medical professionals. Another key focus of the group is to support and motivate each other, focusing on individual health and well-being and sharing mutually beneficial experiences.

Doctors of the groups' ethnic backgrounds across all grades identified 34 (20.1%) African-Caribbean doctors out of the 169 BAME doctors in Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT). Of this, there are 30 doctors of African and 4 of Caribbean backgrounds, with 14 in Consultant, 7 in Staff Grade, Associate Specialist and Specialty (SAS) and 13 in Training posts.

The identified doctors received an invitation to attend the group meeting. Attendance was optional; membership was free with no long-term commitment. The group has an active social media presence to communicate and attract interested colleagues.

The group has met at least three times a year to provide opportunities for meaningful engagement and networking. These have included formal meetings as well as informal dinner events. Feedback from attendees has been very positive, with members mainly commenting on having found support from fellow members in navigating new experiences or learning from how others have sorted culturally unique challenges encountered in their working lives. Our international doctors have expressed joy in finding a resource to obtain guidance in settling into work and support with career development.

Feedback received from members of the group indicate that the doctors have found the group extremely useful. It gives an opportunity for expressive communication to promptly address concerns of any form or nature, on a personal or collective level, thereby improving positive well-being and career progression. Their positive experiences in pastoral care improved inclusion, productivity, retention and ultimately quality of care provided to service users.