A review into how the NHS communicates with Jewish communities in England will seek to improve patient care and prevent disengagement from healthcare services by producing new guidelines for clinicians working with these groups. 

Research will examine how key public health messages are delivered to the community and will focus on potential barriers around communications about vaccinations, preventive health care examination, healthy dietary practices and mental health wellbeing.

Commissioned by the NHS Race and Health Observatory – an independent expert body, established by the NHS – the research will explore known barriers to accessing healthcare, such as issues around booking and attending appointments during the Sabbath and religious festivals, as well as well as feelings of mistrust.

The review will also examine how to tackle low immunisation take-up in certain communities, high Covid-19 infection and mortality rates and the increased genetic risk of certain diseases, such as breast cancer for Ashkenazi Jews.

The Jewish Medical Association and the NHS England Jewish Staff Network will contribute to the research, with practical, evidence-based guidance and recommendations for NHS service providers, including clinicians, expected to be published by summer 2024.

Dr Habib Naqvi, chief executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: “The work will bring together, for the first time, key insights and evidence-based recommendations that address gaps in health communication.

“We know that culturally sensitive, tailored engagement and communication delivered through the correct platforms is vital to improve understanding, trust, confidence and, ultimately, healthcare outcomes for our diverse communities.”