New image library to help improve NHS diagnosis and treatment across ethnic minority communities

Reframe: A new NHS-backed project is now live. It aims to improve diagnosis and treatment for patients from ethnic minorities.

The project includes the free, open-access Reframe Image Library  This library shows clinical photos of people from many communities. It helps show how illnesses look on different skin tones.

There is a lack of medical images showing diverse skin types. This makes it harder for doctors to spot signs of disease. Expert dermatologists have checked the images to ensure they are accurate and reliable.

The library also highlights diversity in the NHS workforce. It shows people from ethnic minorities, the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities in clinical roles. This supports better recruitment and representation.

This resource is especially valuable for advanced and consultant practitioners. It supports more accurate clinical assessments and improves decision-making in complex cases. By improving visual diagnostic skills across diverse populations, it helps practitioners deliver more equitable and effective care.

Reframe is a collaboration between NHS England, the University of the West of England Bristol (UWE Bristol), and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW).

Dr Navina Evans, our Chief Workforce, Training and Education Officer, said:

”It’s really important that the tools available for NHS staff to use when treating patients are fit for purpose, and having access to imagery that reflects the local patient base can support the delivery of good quality care.

“The Reframe project helps us to deliver the values of the NHS Constitution, supporting our staff to better recognise the signs of illness across all patients that need care, regardless of background.

“And with a wider and more inclusive library of images available, including colleagues from under-represented groups, it can also help to encourage more people to consider a career in healthcare. If you’re working in the NHS then I encourage you to take advantage of the free, high-quality resources this project has created.”