NHS staff bearing brunt as ‘ugly’ racism of 70s and 80s returns, says Streeting | NHS

“Ugly” racism reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s has become commonplace again in modern Britain and NHS staff are paying the price, Wes Streeting has warned.

Incidents of verbal and physical violence based on the color of people’s skin now occur so often that it has become “socially acceptable to be racist”, the health secretary said.

In a joint interview with the Guardian alongside NHS England chief executive Jim Mackey, Streeting explained how he was “shocked” to hear NHS staff, particularly those working in emergency departments, recount increasing levels of harassment, assault and violence when their care is delayed.

Advising the public to prepare for the NHS in England to be overwhelmed in the coming weeks due to a triple whammy of flu, Covid and a doctors’ strike as winter approaches, he admitted patients would be put at risk if they got stuck on trolleys or in the back of ambulances – situations known to increase the risk of injury and death.

“Even if you have a long wait, which I know is frustrating, or you feel like you’ve been sent from pillar to post, which unfortunately happens, there’s no excuse for lashing out at staff,” Streeting said.

“But what has shocked me the most is that the rising tide of racism and the way in which the racism of the 1970s and 1980s has apparently become permissible again in this country. I am really shocked by the way in which this is now affecting NHS staff,” he said.

He also criticized unnamed politicians who tolerate racism, adding: “I am disgusted that a level of racism last seen when Britain was a very different country 50 years ago has made an ugly comeback and I am frankly shocked by those in Parliament who have looked into this. »

His remarks come a week after the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) revealed the number of racist incidents experienced by nurses at work has increased in recent years.

Streeting added: “I had a job [MP] colleague whose daughter – a resident doctor – works at a hospital where a man said he only wanted to be treated by white staff. Even though she was Asian, she had slightly lighter skin. And a colleague said to me: “Do you want to go and see if maybe he will accept you?” And rightly so, she turned around and said, “No, actually, I won’t.” Go tell him he wants our care or not, but he can’t discriminate racially. She made the right choice.

“The NHS is not immune to prejudice from wider society, but we must adopt zero tolerance [approach]. Your right to free health care in this country does not come with the freedom to abuse our staff for any reason.

“We have to put an end to racism in this country and we have to put back in the box this horrible racist sentiment that has found expression in our country and once again create a climate in this country where it is not socially acceptable to be racist.”

Professor Nicola Ranger, chief executive of the RCN, agreed with Streeting’s remarks about politicians stoking racial tensions. “The rise in racist abuse that staff face is a stain on society and a stain on our NHS.

“Racism is a problem that affects all of society and is particularly relevant in health and care services, with such a diverse workforce. We must recognize that the increasing use of anti-migrant rhetoric in politics encourages racist behavior.”

Professor Habib Naqvi, chief executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: “It is shocking to see the levels of racism within our communities and in modern Britain today – levels we have not witnessed for decades. We know our NHS is not immune to this scourge because it is a microcosm of wider society – what happens on our streets and within society is impacts on the 1.5 million people who work in the NHS.”

Mackey and Streeting admitted that although the NHS in England is preparing more thoroughly than ever for winter, some trusts would “struggle” to maintain a normal service during the cold snap, during which A&E units are expected to see record numbers of people seeking care.

“I want to be frank with people, especially at a time when trust in politics is even rarer than money. When there are problems this winter, and there will be problems this winter, there will be hospitals where there will be people on gurneys in the hallways.”

Mackey added that corridor care – graphically highlighted by Age UK last week – is “one of the things that keeps me up at night” and “one of the horrible, visible signs of standards drifting over recent years.” This is completely unacceptable.”

He added: “I’m really hopeful that we’ll get there. [winter] GOOD. But it’s important to be realistic. There is a lot of flu, there has been a lot of Covid and the question of industrial action is a complexity that we could do without.

The four hospitals in Bristol and Weston-super-Mare are facing a “critical incident” – that is, an emergency situation – and have been receiving help from other NHS trusts since last Thursday due to “exceptionally high demand for care”.

Some hospitals, such as those in Lincolnshire, have asked patients, visitors and staff in certain care areas to wear face masks from next week in a bid to curb the spread of viruses.

Resident doctors – formerly juniors – in England want a 29% pay rise. Tens of thousands are expected to go on strike for five days from November 14 to press their demands, in what will be their 13th walkout since March 2023. Their last strike in July cost the NHS around £250 million.

Streeting urged the British Medical Association, the main doctors’ union, to call off next week’s action. This is unjustified because salaries of resident doctors have increased by 28.9% over the past three years, he said.

“The impact [strikes] I’m really worried about what winter will look like. Everyone will lose if this continues. Patients will suffer from the disruption and impact on the service. Doctors and other NHS staff will suffer as they have to pick up the pieces of the disruption. And this time, it will take place against a winter backdrop. But the resident doctors themselves [will also] lose,” he added.