The NHS has recently published a resource designed to support healthcare staff combat racial discrimination.
Created in collaboration with NHS Confederation and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the document outlines best practises for responding to racism; whether the individual experiences it, witnesses it or wants to be proactive in leading anti-racism.
However, we know how busy life as a nurse can be, so to help you out, our team has summarised the key points of the document below.
Witnessing racism
Call it out, regardless of the individual’s seniority. Stay calm and collected, but do not ignore the incident.
Check in with the victim after the event has been resolved and make sure they’re OK.
Escalate the matter with a manager as soon as you can.
Experiencing racism
Talk to trusted colleagues and managers about what has been going on. It may be worth keeping a diary if the racial discrimination is reoccurring so you can easily recall the events to senior members of staff.
Build a support system.
Agree on what action needs to be taken.
NHS trusts host meet ups where staff and allies from racially minoritised communities can build strategies for anti-racist behaviour and share their experiences in a safe space.
If no action is being taken then seek external professional support (see page 17 for full list).
Promoting anti-racism
Challenge management: how diverse is your work team? Is your manager actively promoting equality?
Support your colleagues and speak up for them if they have/are experiencing racism at work.
Collaborate with racially minoritised communities and work towards building a safer and more inclusive work environment.
Call it out when you see it and educate others.
To find out more about combating racism in the NHS, we recommend downloading the full document here.
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