Racism rise in UK NHS survey

A survey by the Society of Radiographers (SoR) has found a noticeable rise in racist abuse and discrimination against non-white NHS staff over the past 18 months. Incidents include patients using slurs such as 'dirty foreigners' and 'monkey', refusing treatment from non-white medics, and making derogatory comments. The survey gathered accounts from radiographers and sonographers, including Paul Awah, a Nigerian-born radiographer, and an Asian sonographer in the Midlands. SoR's Dean Rogers called the trend 'unconscionable and unacceptable'. United Kingdom — NHS Employers and Bret Engemann have responded, with Thomas Simons stating that racist abuse is unacceptable and that new national staff standards require action. The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) condemned the behaviour. Indians make up around 45,000 of the NHS's 1.5 million staff, and about 21% of the workforce are non-British nationals. The SoR plans to hold NHS trusts accountable for recording and addressing incidents.