Background and objective:
As COVID-19 has spread globally, evidence suggests that the disease disproportionately affects people from the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) population, with the risk of death among people diagnosed with COVID-19 higher in those living in more deprived areas and BAME groups than in White ethnic groups. The disproportionate deaths in BAME groups may also be attributable to risk factors, including unemployment and working in lower-skilled jobs, older age, hypertension, and diabetes. Furthermore, people from BAME populations are more likely to be employed in frontline jobs leading to increased exposure to the risks of contracting COVID-19. There is evidence that healthcare staff experiences stress and anxiety during the pandemic; specifically, this is about their own risk or risk to their families. It is crucial to explore the experiences of BAME family members living with BAME healthcare workers because they are a vulnerable group, and their experiences are unknown.

Methods:
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyze their data, eliciting the meanings this group of people gives to their experiences of living with BAME healthcare workers during the pandemic. Six participants were recruited using a snowball technique, and one-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted.

Results:
The cross-case comparison of idiographic accounts of the participants revealed that external influences, including living with healthcare workers, had an emotional and mental impact on this group. Participants said they felt vulnerable, hopeless, and helpless due to being from a BAME background, subsequently seeking coping strategies/reassurance.

Conclusion:
The findings illuminate the participants experiences in the UK during COVID-19 Pandemic, providing an original contribution to knowledge and insight into the nature of support and services needed by this group.