A survey of 381 members of the Society of Radiographers has documented an increase in racist incidents experienced by healthcare workers across the National Health Service. The research revealed instances of patients using derogatory language, refusing treatment from staff based on race or ethnicity, and making discriminatory comments about immigration and employment.
Specific examples cited in the report include patients addressing staff members with offensive epithets, expressing discomfort based on skin color, and making assumptions about staff qualifications tied to their appearance. In one documented case, a patient declined a black radiographer’s care, stating fear based on race. Another instance involved a patient making comments about a radiographer’s religious headwear and claiming incomprehension despite the staff member speaking with a regional English accent.
Paul Awah, a 39-year-old radiographer in Bedfordshire who relocated from Nigeria five years prior, shared experiences of patients claiming inability to understand his communication despite English being his primary language. He attributed the increase partly to shifts in political discourse surrounding immigration, suggesting that rhetoric previously considered unacceptable has become normalized in public conversation.
Leadership at the NHS Race and Health Observatory characterized the findings as a concerning reflection of broader societal issues, emphasizing the psychological toll such incidents inflict on healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds. Officials noted that the organization could not function without the contributions of international healthcare workers and called for consistent enforcement of zero-tolerance policies.
Previous research supports these findings, with the Royal College of Nursing reporting a 55% increase in racist incidents among its members over a three-year period. NHS staff survey data indicated that one in five black and minority-ethnic employees reported abuse, bullying, or harassment from patients or the public, compared with one in 20 white staff members. NHS England leadership reaffirmed commitment to preventing such incidents and established protocols allowing organizations to refuse non-emergency care to patients engaging in racial discrimination.
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