First year with the Chinese Deep Engagement Partner
The Chinese Community Centre's year one delivery of the Deep Engagement Partner (DEP) Programme impacted over 1,200 people through health activities and training.
This highlighted the barriers Chinese women face in accessing healthcare.
The programme improved women's health knowledge, increased trust in NHS services, and strengthened cultural understanding for health professionals. This helped to create pathways to reduce health inequalities.
Focus group 1 topic: women's general health
Objectives
- Understand how Chinese women navigate health services
- Identify language, cultural, and systemic barriers
- Explore awareness of NHS services
- Collect feedback on treatment quality and service delivery
- Create recommendations for inclusive healthcare
Findings
- Limited digital literacy — people rely on family for booking and navigating services
- Poor access to interpreters, errors and delays, and a lack of translated materials
- Low understanding of NHS services like Pharmacy First and self-referral options
- Mixed experiences — some felt dismissed or discriminated against
- Poor explanations and a lack of translated health information
- Western medicine is seen as supportive
- Some avoided getting help because of booking difficulties or fear of burdening the NHS
Recommendations
- Improve quality and punctuality, and restrict family interpreters as a last resort
- Provide key health information in Mandarin and Cantonese
- Train healthcare staff in respectful, culturally sensitive communication
- Offer support for using NHS digital tools, such as the NHS App
- Work with Chinese community centres for navigation and advocacy
- Use multilingual surveys and forums to gather patient feedback
Focus group 2 topic: breast and cervical screening
Objectives
- Explore Chinese women's experiences accessing breast and cervical cancer screening services
- Understand perceptions and participation in screening programmes
- Identify barriers, including language, trust, cultural attitudes, and health literacy
Findings
- Most had attended screenings, often motivated by trust in the NHS
- Concerns included unclear procedures, discomfort with male doctors, and stigma around discussing screenings
- Inconsistent language support — some felt patronised or misunderstood
- Using children or untrained interpreters raised confidentiality concerns
- Mixed awareness of breast health because of a cultural reluctance to discuss women's health
- Some felt dismissed by the NHS
- Participants valued clear, respectful communication and access to interpreters
- Not enough practical information on navigating NHS services
Recommendations
- Translate NHS screening letters and materials into Mandarin and Cantonese
- Provide qualified interpreters and avoid reliance on family members or untrained individuals
- Allow patients to request female clinicians for intimate procedures
- Train healthcare professionals in cultural sensitivity and respectful communication
- Partner with Chinese community organisations for outreach and education
- Use culturally appropriate media formats to raise awareness
- Improve follow-up systems and provide clear guidance on accessing support services
- Encourage feedback from ethnic minority patients to improve service delivery
Focus group 3 topic: maternal health
Objectives
- Explore Chinese women's preparation for pregnancy and use of traditional and Western practices
- Assess antenatal, childbirth, and postnatal care experiences
- Identify cultural expectations and communication barriers
- Collect feedback to improve maternity services
Findings
- Participants had mixed knowledge of maternity services and heavily relied on informal sources like YouTube
- Antenatal care was valued but was affected by missed scans and unclear procedures
- Hospital births were preferred, but cultural needs were overlooked
- Postnatal care felt rushed and lacked emotional and breastfeeding support
- Breastfeeding support was poor and culturally insensitive
- Traditional practices were used but not acknowledged by healthcare staff
- Emotional support and clear information were lacking, especially during miscarriage experiences
Recommendations
- Provide clear, multilingual guides on maternity services and entitlements
- Improve access to qualified interpreters throughout maternity care
- Recognise and accommodate cultural practices in birth planning and postnatal care
- Train healthcare staff in cultural humility and sensitivity
- Develop outreach materials through trusted Chinese community platforms
- Create feedback pathways for women experiencing miscarriage or unclear care
- Partner with Chinese organisations to deliver culturally tailored maternity workshops
Focus group 4 topic: menopause
Objectives
- Understand Chinese women's awareness and perceptions of menopause
- Examine cultural attitudes and their impact on health-seeking behaviours
- Identify issues with accessing menopause-related information and care
- Collect feedback to improve menopause-related health services
Findings
- Awareness of menopause often begins with symptoms or peer experiences
- GP (General Practitioner, usually your family doctor) support was minimal, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was avoided unless symptoms were severe
- Information sources included Hong Kong TV, NHS websites, and personal networks — GPs were seen as passive
- Cultural stigma and embarrassment limited open discussion, especially with men
- Menopause was viewed as a private issue; many preferred traditional Chinese medicine and natural remedies
- Understanding of menopause was basic, as only a few people knew about perimenopause
- Participants wanted more emotional support, peer networks, and resources in Mandarin and Cantonese
Recommendations
- Provide bilingual menopause education materials in clinics and online
- Train GPs and frontline staff in culturally sensitive menopause care
- Include menopause in routine health screenings for Chinese women aged 40 years and over
- Host community information sessions with health professionals and trusted leaders
- Partner with Chinese media to share accurate, culturally relevant information
- Organise peer-led support groups and create directories of bilingual practitioners
- Engage men in education efforts to encourage family support
- Develop intersectional health projects linking menopause with mental health and ageing
Page last updated: 10 February 2026
