NHS Race & Health Observatory

What NHS Race & Health Observatory does

The NHS Race & Health Observatory is an independent research and policy organisation hosted within NHS Alliance (a UK registered charity, charity number 1090329), operating from Westminster, London. Its mandate is to identify and tackle ethnic inequities in health and social care by commissioning external research through competitive tendering, publishing policy recommendations, and convening senior NHS leaders and regulators. It runs five standing advisory groups covering academic, international, maternal/neonatal, mental health and stakeholder engagement workstreams.

Its core outputs include the Health Action Resource Platform (HARP), an interactive digital platform launched in August 2025 that aggregates data metrics, insights and replicable practice for healthcare organisations; the Maternal and Neonatal Learning and Action Network (LAN), a January 2024 pilot programme developed with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and targeted at 14 NHS Trusts; and the Race and Health Matters content platform. Landmark research outputs include the June 2024 Ethnic Inequities in Genomics and Precision Medicine Review, which examined 70+ policy documents spanning 2017-2022.

The Observatory does not sell products or services. It is funded through NHS England commissioning and UK government grants, distributing its work via direct engagement with NHS Trusts, regulatory bodies (CQC, GMC, NMC) and international partners such as NICE and the US CDC. Its operating model is community-led, with ~23 staff supporting a much broader advisory and partner ecosystem.

Name

NHS Race & Health Observatory

Legal name

NHS Alliance

Website

https://nhsrho.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The NHS Race & Health Observatory is a UK charity-hosted research and policy body that commissions research, publishes recommendations and convenes NHS leaders to identify and tackle ethnic health inequities across NHS England and partner regulators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Equity Research and Policy

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health Equity Analytics & Disparities Measurement (HLACAHAK), Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA), Health Data, Vital Statistics & Population Health Informatics (BPAIAJAM)

Keywords

• Health equity research
• Ethnic health disparities
• Healthcare policy advisory
• NHS research commissioning
• Health inequality advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Commissioning and Grants: The organization conducts most of its research by commissioning external organisations through competitive tendering. RHO commissions research, engages in policy work, and provides advisory services to NHS England and other health bodies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The NHS Race & Health Observatory is a UK research and policy organisation that identifies and tackles ethnic inequities in health and care by commissioning external research, producing evidence-based policy recommendations, convening NHS leadership, and delivering implementation programmes such as the Maternal and Neonatal Learning and Action Network and the Health Action Resource Platform (HARP). Its work is structured around advisory groups covering maternal and neonatal health, mental health, genomics, academic research, international expertise, and stakeholder engagement, with outputs funded by NHS England and government grants.

Product overview

The NHS Race and Health Observatory operates as a research and policy organisation focused on identifying and tackling ethnic inequities in health and care. Its core offerings include the Health Action Resource Platform (HARP) - an interactive digital platform bringing together data metrics, insights and replicable good practice - and the Maternal and Neonatal Learning and Action Network programme. The organisation produces research reports, policy recommendations, and maintains content platforms like Race and Health Matters to facilitate long-term transformational change in the NHS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Health Action Resource Platform (HARP): Interactive digital platform designed to support healthcare organisations tackle ethnic inequalities in health and across the healthcare system by bringing together data metrics, insights and replicable good practice.
• Maternal and Neonatal Learning and Action Network (LAN)

Products and services

• Health Action Resource Platform (HARP) Interactive digital platform designed to support healthcare organisations tackle ethnic inequalities in health and across the healthcare system by bringing together data metrics, insights and replicable good practice. Available to NHS and healthcare partners.
• Maternal and Neonatal Learning and Action Network (LAN) A pilot implementation programme addressing stark disparities in maternal, perinatal and neonatal health outcomes, developed and delivered in partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement for participating NHS Trusts.
• RHO Implementation Model Structured approach and framework supporting NHS organisations to implement anti-racism interventions and health equity initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Commissioned landmark genomics research examining ethnic inequities across 70+ policy documents
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and strategic.

• NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2025Landmark partnership agreement to tackle persistent and systemic ethnic health inequalities. This unique pairing represents a significant commitment from both organizations to address racial disparities in health outcomes through coordinated policy and research efforts.
• NHS North Thames Genomic Medicine Service (NT GMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to ensure better access, understanding and information to genomic medicine and research for ethnic minority communities. Includes development of a new online health hub to address genomic healthcare inequalities.
• University of NottinghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on genomics and precision medicine research, examining ethnic inequities in genetic datasets and developing recommendations for improving representation of ethnic minorities in genetic research.
• Institute for Healthcare ImprovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the Maternal and Neonatal Learning and Action Network (LAN) programme launched in January 2024 as a landmark pilot to address stark disparities in maternal, perinatal and neonatal health outcomes.
• Care Quality Commission (CQC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned nine shared anti-racism principles along with GMC and NMC to help tackle longstanding racism experienced by health and social care staff. Part of unprecedented regulatory commitment to race equality.
• General Medical Council (GMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint signatory to anti-racism principles for health and social care regulators, addressing racism experienced by healthcare staff.
• Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint signatory to anti-racism principles for health and social care regulators, addressing racism experienced by healthcare staff.
• US Centers for Disease Control and PreventionstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of Understanding signed to collaborate on addressing health inequalities, marking an international partnership for sharing expertise and best practices in race and health.
• NHS EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on research commissioning, healthcare education initiatives, and implementation of race equity programs across NHS services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The King's Fund: UK-based independent health think tank producing policy research, analysis, and convening on health system improvement, including health inequalities. Highly comparable as a UK health policy/equity organization serving NHS and government stakeholders.
• Health Foundation: Independent UK charitable foundation funding research and policy analysis on health and care, with explicit focus on health inequalities and improvement. Comparable model: charity-funded research commissioning and policy influence in UK health.
• Runnymede Trust: UK independent race equality think tank producing research on ethnic inequality, including health. Direct peer in mission, geography, and operational model as a small UK charity driving policy via research and advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF): US non-profit focusing on health policy research and analysis, including health equity and disparities. Comparable as an independent, non-profit health research organization producing policy analysis to inform government decisions.
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: US philanthropic foundation focused on health and health equity, including racial equity in health. Direct thematic peer addressing structural ethnic health disparities through research funding, policy advocacy, and partnerships.
• RAND Corporation: Global policy research organization producing rigorous health systems and equity research. Comparable as a research-commissioning, evidence-driven organization influencing health policy and practice.
• Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR): UK progressive think tank covering health and social policy, including inequality work. Comparable as a research-driven UK think tank shaping public policy, though broader in scope than race-specific health equity.
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement: Global improvement organization partnering with RHO on the Maternal and Neonatal Learning and Action Network. Comparable as a healthcare improvement convener and methodology provider, though focused broadly on quality/safety rather than equity.

Others

• Department of Health and Social Care (Race Disparity Unit): UK government unit producing data on ethnic disparities across public services including health. Comparable as a UK institution producing research and analysis on ethnic health disparities, though government-affiliated rather than independent.
• NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence): Flagship partner of RHO and the UK's primary health guidance body. Distinct role (clinical guidance vs. observatory), but directly comparable as an NHS-affiliated body shaping care standards and addressing disparities through policy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NHS_RHO
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nhsraceandhealthobservator2245
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nhs-race-and-health-observatory

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NHS Race & Health Observatory