In October, we celebrate Black History Month: From the nurses who came from the Caribbean to help set up the NHS, to their descendants, the scientists, mathematicians, allied health professionals and leaders whose action and ideas help shape the NHS today.

Our current NHS workforce is more diverse than at any point in its history. Black colleagues make up 8.5% of our workforce, 6.1% of doctors, dentists and consultants, and 11.8% of our nurses, midwives and health visitors.

There is a significant need for more organ donors of Black heritage to help the growing number of Black patients waiting for life-saving transplants. To be an organ donor when you die, the best thing to do is to confirm your name and decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

As sickle cell is more common in Black people, there’s a real need for blood types that are more common in people of Black heritage. Most people can give blood if they’re in good general health. Check if you can donate.

In the UK people of south Asian and Black African or African Caribbean background have an increased risk of getting cardiovascular disease (CVD). Please visit NHS.uk to learn how you can reduce your risk.

Use the Know Your Risk tool from Diabetes UK to find out your risk. You can enter information including your ethnicity, age, height, weight and waist measurement, and it will give you an assessment of your personal risk of developing type 2 diabetes and advice about next steps.