UK-REACH V1.0: UK-REACH: United Kingdom Research Study into Ethnicity And COVID-19 outcomes in Healthcare workers

Black and ethnic minority healthcare workers in the UK are more likely to become severely ill or die from COVID-19 than their white colleagues, and this study will use national health data to find out why. This matters because early evidence pointed to a stark disparity, but the underlying causes—whether they are biological, occupational, or social—remained unclear. Without systematic investigation, policies to protect at-risk staff would remain guesswork. The study will link existing healthcare worker records to COVID-19 test and hospitalisation data, then follow a group of ethnic minority staff for 12 months to track changes in their physical and mental health. Researchers will also interview a smaller group to understand how they perceive their job risks and how their behaviour has changed during the pandemic. If successful, the findings could directly inform workplace protections, such as targeted PPE guidance, shift adjustments, or mental health support for those most at risk. The project includes a stakeholder group of major national organisations to ensure results are publicised and translated into practical recommendations. Because linking staff data to health records raises privacy concerns, the team will also explore how to do this in a way that is acceptable to participants and the public.