Statement in response to comments made by Frank Hester

Responding to comments made by Frank Hester, Professor Habib Naqvi, chief executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said:

“Racism, in all its forms, is a scourge on our society. Insight and evidence clearly show the impact racism has across all aspects of life, and when it comes to healthcare – it can be the difference between life and death.

“Whilst there are lessons here for us all, NHS organisations should be explicit in their actions to tackle discrimination. They should uphold a clear stance on eliminating racism and apply processes attentively when contracting external bodies whose views and values may not align with the fundamental values of equity and tackling discrimination, upon which the NHS was built. There is no room for racism, sexism, or any other form of discrimination, in the NHS.”