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RCM says urgent action needed to stamp out racism in NHS

on 19 March 2021 Maternity Services Race matters BAME

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) says urgent action is needed to stamp out racism in the NHS in a motion to the TUC Black Workers conference starting today. It calls for an open and inclusive NHS in which everyone feels that they belong and says the NHS must support and give black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) staff equal opportunities to progress.

Despite the laudable aim in the NHS People Plan promising ‘zero tolerance’, BAME NHS staff still face significant challenges. The 2020 NHS Staff Survey published last week found that BAME staff are more than twice as likely to personally experience discrimination at work than white staff.

Janet Ballintine is a midwife and RCM Board Member and has spoken about her own experiences of racism and discrimination in the NHS.

Janet said: "I have been a midwife for 31 years and a nurse before that and have personally suffered on many occasions the shock of racism and discrimination, and the trauma it brings. I have also seen its effects on colleagues and the terrible toll it takes, personally and professionally.  It has no place in 21st century Britain, and in our NHS and the fact that is still happens angers and saddens me deeply. This motion to the TUC is so important because we must root out racism and end discrimination once and for all."

Staff from black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds continue to face discrimination and inequality and the pandemic has both magnified these existing problems and thrown a spotlight on them. During the pandemic BAME staff who asked for additional PPE during COVID were more likely to be refused, and nearly two-thirds of BAME healthcare workers felt more pressured to work with COVID patients compared to white staff (33%).

The RCM motion to the TUC Black Workers Conference is part of the RCM’s Race Matters programme, launched last year to tackle this endemic problem within the NHS. The TUC conference is running from 19-21 March.

ENDS

To contact the RCM Media Office call 020 7312 3456, or email media@rcm.org.uk.  

Notes to editors

For more information on the TUC Black Workers Conference 2021 visit https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/tuc-black-workers-conference .

The RCM’s Race Matters campaign aims to improve the care for women and staff from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. For more information see https://www.rcm.org.uk/supporting/race-matters/.

The RCM commented on the recent NHS Race Equality Standard report, see https://www.rcm.org.uk/media-releases/2021/january/we-need-faster-change-on-nhs-race-equality-says-rcm-1/.

The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance, and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences, and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.

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