White nurses are twice as likely to be promoted to blacks and Asian counterparts in the NHS, and minority employees are ethnically neglected due to structural racism, according to a study.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said its study suggests that racism is “endemic” to health and care. A survey of nearly 10,000 nurses found that those who are white or of mixed ethnicity are more likely than blacks and Asian counterparts to receive at least one promotion since the beginning of their careers.
The difference is most serious among people between the ages of 35 and 44, according to RCN, which published the report at its annual congress in Glasgow. While 65.9% of whites and 64% of mixed ethnic respondents in this age group said they had been promoted, it dropped to just 38.3% of Asians and 35.2% of blacks.
The college called on the government to take action to tackle racism, including a legal requirement to close disparities in recruitment, retention and career advancement, or greater responsibility for employers to protect minority ethnic groups.
RCN said structural racism has a “devastating” effect on minority employees, highlighting the results of the study, which say that black respondents working in hospitals and community care are more likely to report physical violence than respondents of other ethnic backgrounds.
Bruno Daniel, RCN’s coordinator on diversity and equality, said: “The examples of racism experienced by medical staff in the workplace are deeply shocking. The pandemic has shed light on structural racism in health and services, and we must seize this opportunity to end this vile behavior once and for all.
“The UK government and decentralized administrations need to properly recognize and address this problem and the devastating impact it has on black and ethnic minority employees and patients.
Speaking at the conference on sending to high-risk areas during the pandemic, agency nurse Roselyn Sani-Ahose said: “Covid-19 was a terrible situation for nurses from blacks and ethnic minorities in the country. Due to the lack of PPE, we were not given appropriate masks and were told to reuse our protective clothing and wear a dress throughout the day, even if we were exposed to patients with Covid-19.
Saffron Cordery, interim CEO of NHS Providers, said the findings provided new evidence of “the unacceptable presence of structural racism in our healthcare and care system.”
“As the largest employer of blacks, Asians and ethnic minorities in the country, the NHS must recognize and confront the structural racism and discrimination that still exist in its ranks,” she added.
“There is also clear evidence that patients from ethnic minorities have worse healthcare experiences than their white counterparts. This needs to be addressed as we reduce waiting lists, focusing on correcting inequalities in access to healthcare related to ethnicity or deprivation. “
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Earlier this year, the Guardian revealed that a horrific review commissioned by the NHS Race and Health Observatory found that the “huge” and “widespread” injustice in every aspect of the health care it reviewed harmed the health of millions of patients. .
Racism, racial discrimination, barriers to accessing health care, and pathetic data collection on ethnicity have “negatively” affected the health of blacks, Asians, and ethnic minorities for years, according to a study that reveals the true scale of health inequalities. ethnic minorities are facing. for the first time.
“Change can only be achieved by acknowledging these facts and having an honest conversation about racism, its structural roots and its impact,” Cordery said. “Every leader in the NHS and the government has a duty to work actively to eliminate racial inequalities. NHS boards and senior executives need to demonstrate the behavior that is expected and necessary – collectively and individually – to dispel prejudice.
An NHS spokesman in England said: “Having a workforce that best reflects the people we care for is good for our staff and good for our patients, so although it is important to have more BAME nurses at senior positions than ever, the NHS recognizes that more needs to be done. ”
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