Racist incidents against UK nurses surge by 55% | Nursing
The number of nurses reporting racist incidents in the workplace has increased by 55 percent in three years, according to a nurses’ union analysis.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) expects to receive more than 1,000 calls this year from nurses seeking advice and support after racist incidents at work; this number was almost 700 in 2022.
Examples of racist abuse reported to the helpline include a nurse being refused annual leave being told by her manager that she should not come to the UK, and another RCN member being told by a colleague: “I want to remind you that you are not one of us.”
Other racist incidents reported to the union include a patient and his family repeatedly refusing the care of a nurse, saying they did not want “people like her” to treat them, and referring to the nurse as a “slave”. Another member was subjected to racist remarks, including being told that black people’s teeth could only be seen “in the dark.”
RCN general secretary and chief executive Prof Nicola Ranger said the rise of racist incidents in health and care services was a “shameful sign”.
He said: “Every ethnic minority nursing professional deserves to go to work without fear of abuse and employers have a legal duty to ensure the safety of workplaces. These findings should refocus minds in the fight against racism.”
“If health and care employers fail to make their workplaces a safe environment for their care staff, it is not surprising that those same staff will leave and their services will also be cut. [left] there are fewer safe staff.”
The nurses’ union has called on the government to stop using anti-immigrant rhetoric which it says puts workers at risk.
Ranger said: “The truth is that our health and social care system only works because care staff of all ethnicities, nationalities and beliefs do so. We call on the government and politicians of all parties to recognize their role in tackling racism – and this must include ending the use of anti-immigrant rhetoric which only risks encouraging racist behaviour.”
The RCN also called on employers to prioritize tackling racism and work with unions to create stronger mechanisms to protect staff.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “These stark figures are shocking and our thoughts are with the victims of this vile abuse.
“Racism and discrimination are unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the NHS. The Prime Minister has ordered an urgent review of any form of racism in the NHS as part of wider efforts to tackle discrimination in healthcare.”
“We value the diversity of our NHS, which is built on the skill and dedication of nursing staff from all backgrounds; the hard-working staff who keep our health service going by caring for patients should be treated with dignity and respect.”
