Posted 23 February 2023 - 12:36
Posted 23 February 2023 - 12:36
News
Black nurses still most likely to face discrimination in NHS
In an NHS workforce more diverse than ever, black nurses feel the least equality of opportunity and more progress is seen as ‘desperately needed’
In an NHS workforce more diverse than ever, black nurses feel the least equality of opportunity and more progress is seen as ‘desperately needed’
Black British nurses are more likely to face discrimination and barriers to career progression than those from other backgrounds, suggests the latest race equality data from NHS England.
The data shows the NHS workforce is more diverse than at any other point in its history, with nearly 30% of registered nurses and midwives from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds.
However, nurses and midwives from all ethnic minority backgrounds – and ‘other’ white backgrounds – continue to experience higher levels of discrimination, bullying and abuse from colleagues than white British counterparts.
Black British nurses and midwives less likely to see equal opportunities for career progression and promotion
Analysis of the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard data from 2022 indicates black British nurses in particular fare significantly worse than those from other groups.
The report says: ‘Most notably for nurses and midwives, the largest part of the workforce, there is a striking disadvantage experienced by black staff, who feel the least equality of opportunity and are the largest victims of discrimination.’
The data shows black British nurses and midwives are much less likely to feel their organisation provides equal opportunities for career progression and promotion.
Only about 35% felt they had access to equal opportunities, compared with about 62% of white British staff and 53% from other white backgrounds.
Meanwhile black British nurses – and those from ‘other’ backgrounds – reported the highest levels of discrimination from fellow staff.
The data shows about 22% had personally experienced discrimination from staff compared with 6.4% of white British counterparts.
Other key findings in the race equality report
- Nurses from ‘other’ white backgrounds experienced the highest levels of harassment, bullying or abuse from patients, relatives or the public (46%) but levels were also high for nurses from mixed, black British and ‘other’ backgrounds
- About a third of nurses from BME and ‘other’ white backgrounds experienced harassment, bullying and abuse from staff compared with less than a quarter of white British counterparts
- White and BME male nurses were more likely to experience harassment, bullying or abuse from patients and relatives than female colleagues
Risk of frustrated staff leaving for good unless substantial progress continues, says RCN
The data shows some signs of improvement, including a small increase in the proportion of BME staff at board level and in senior management roles, although they are still under-represented.
RCN diversity and equalities coordinator Bruno Daniel said further progress was desperately needed.
‘BME staff are still substantially less likely to be shortlisted for jobs, more likely to face disciplinary action, and more likely to report harassment, bullying and abuse from patients than their white colleagues,’ he said.
‘There can be no space for racism in the NHS and we risk frustrated staff leaving for good in the midst of a workforce crisis if substantial progress does not continue to be made.’
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