BLACK AND minority ethnic health workers have welcomed Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s comments that patients who are racially abusive towards staff should be refused treatment.
Streeting made the comments earlier this month in the wake of rioting across the country that followed the killing of three girls in Southport.
He spoke after reports emerged of two Filipino nurses who were attacked in Sunderland during the outbreak of rioting in the city.
In an interview with the PA news agency during a visit to the Leeds Cancer Centre Streeting said people who are racist to NHS staff “can and should” be turned away from care.
‘Apalled’
“I was appalled by reports of violence directed towards Filipino nurses in Sunderland – these were nurses going into work to provide emergency care and their attackers bring shame on our flag and shame on our country” he said.
He added that the NHS has a “zero tolerance” approach to racism.
“I will not tolerate, under any circumstances, NHS or social care staff in any health or care setting being subjected to intimidation, harassment or racist abuse” he said.
“I think we are lucky to have people in our NHS and social care sectors who come from around the world to provide great, compassionate care.”
Streeting’s comments were backed by Professor Habib Naqvi, Chief Executive of NHS Race and Health Observatory.
Professor Naqvi told The Voice: “We welcome the government’s stance on reinforcing protection from racism and discrimination for our healthcare staff.
Zero tolerance of racism
“As those who work in the NHS go about their vital work caring for others, it’s critical that they are supported by policies and practices that have zero tolerance to racism, violence, and discrimination of any form – and these should also be made clearly visible to patients.
“Leaders across the NHS should be accountable for proactively advancing fair, equitable and compassionate working environments, where both patients and staff are treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve.”
He continued: “We know, from many years of research and evidence, that Black, Asian and ethnic minority staff in the NHS continue to regularly report racial discrimination from patients and colleagues alike. Staff are our most vital asset and should not be subject to this type of behaviour whilst undertaking their critical role in supporting others.
“It’s important for NHS organisations to have policies in place that offer immediate support to its staff and that tackle discrimination and violence head-on.”
Charles Kwaku-Odoi, Chief Executive of the Caribbean and African Health Network, a leading national Black health organisation, also welcomed Streeting’s comments.
Support mechanisms
However he stressed that given complaints about racism that Black health staff have made in recent years, the right mechanisms need to be in place to ensure that they get the backing they need.
“This isn’t the first time this issue has come up” he said. “During the pandemic there were cases where White patients didn’t want to be treated by clinicians who had a different colour skin to them.
“But it’s good that the health secretary has said what he said. But we will need to see how this zero-tolerance policy of racism is implemented by the NHS Trusts.”
He continued: “The other challenge worth highlighting is the racism that Black doctors and nurses face from other colleagues which unfortunately, the NHS hasn’t been able to deal with. So, to just talk about the racism they face from patients seems a little simplistic.
“If what constitutes micro-aggression or discrimination from colleagues hasn’t been dealt with, then when you want to apply the same thing to patients, it becomes difficult to deal with.
“If there’s a racist incident that happens on a hospital ward and you decide to refuse treatment, you’ve got to make sure that you have the backing of other colleagues. In the heat of the moment, it’s something that the health secretary has said and given his backing to.
“But the challenge, as we’ve seen in the past, is about the implementation of the policy at a hospital and local NHS Trust level.”
Clear guidelines
Kwaku-Odoi also stressed the importance of accessible and clear guidelines in tackling the issue.
“What will be good is to provide some clear national guidance in writing and highlight a couple a couple of case studies where Black health professionals have had the support to refuse treatment.
“So, for example, patient treatment in hospitals often happens in teams. If a Black consultant or nurse refuses treatment to a patient who is being racist are the right mechanisms in place to ensure that other members of team aren’t going to go behind their backs and undermine them?
“I think we need a test case to have that confidence that this policy can hold water.”