Responding to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) report Ethnicity inequalities in COVID-19 disruption to hospital admissions, the director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin, said:

"This report provides further evidence of the differential impact of COVID-19 which has exacerbated pre-existing health inequalities, and disproportionately impacted ethnic minority populations.

"We note that further research is needed to understand what was behind the drop in emergency admissions. 

"However we agree that this is unacceptable, and addressing this issue is an urgent priority for trusts and their partners.

"They are working to understand levels of unmet need and the drivers of health inequalities in their areas.

"Given they each face different sets of challenges, there is no single approach that will work everywhere. Getting it right requires culturally sensitive engagement with communities, to properly meet their needs.

"It is vital that everyone knows the NHS is there for them. One key test will be the way in which work to recover the backlog of care is carried out.

"Trust leaders are committed to playing their full part in addressing these deep seated societal challenges."