Open statement on addressing racism across healthcare

Responding to a number of racial incidents, Professor Habib Naqvi, chief executive, NHS Race and Health Observatory, said:

“Sadly, we are witnessing growing levels of verbal and physical racial abuse faced by healthcare staff across the country. These incidents are appalling and totally unacceptable. We were dismayed to see the video of a healthcare worker being racially abused in a park in Halifax and expect this member of staff to receive all the necessary support from their employer. No one should be subjected to discrimination or abuse, within or outside of the workplace.

“We hear of patients that are abusive, violent and racist to staff; at times refusing treatment from qualified healthcare staff due to their ethnicity. NHS organisations must ensure they have a fully active zero tolerance policy in place for dealing with racism, violence, and all forms of discrimination and abuse. These guidelines should be made visible to staff and patients, and should offer full, immediate support to those individuals personally impacted.

“Our diverse workforce has been, and continues to be, the backbone of our healthcare system. It must be cared for, celebrated and respected for the outstanding care that it provides.

“We know from many years of research and evidence – including from the annual Workplace Race Equality Standard (WRES) – that NHS staff continue to report racial discrimination from patients as well as from colleagues. Staff from Black, Asian or ethnic minority groups should not be subject to this type of behaviour whilst undertaking their critical, life-saving role in supporting patients.”

• In 2023, the NHS Race and Health Observatory issued an open statement to the healthcare system on addressing racism in the workplace: Open statement from the NHS Race and Health Observatory to the healthcare system on addressing racism in the workplace – NHS – Race and Health Observatory 
• The Observatory exists to identify and tackle inequalities, including structural racism and bias for ethnic minority communities, including members of our health and care workforce. It has developed the ‘Seven Anti-Racism Principles’ resource designed as a simple, evidence-based model of anti-racism for healthcare organisations and systems. It outlines practical steps to foster anti-racism practice, raise awareness and address racial inequities which remain prevalent among patients, communities and in the NHS workforce.
• The first of the RHO Anti-Racism principles is to demonstrate leadership by naming racism. This involves engaging seriously and continuously with the ways in which racism impacts the lives of the patients and the public, and actively working to dismantle it.