NHS STAFF REPORT RISE IN RACIST ABUSE FROM PATIENTS

NHS radiographers have reported a noticeable increase in racist abuse from patients over the past 18 months, according to a survey of 381 members of the Society of Radiographers. Incidents documented include staff being called "monkeys" and "dirty foreigners", patients refusing treatment from black and Asian healthcare professionals, and complaints about staff appearance and accent. The latest NHS Staff Survey indicates a five-year high in discrimination experienced by staff from patients, with official figures suggesting 9.26 per cent of respondents reported incidents in the last 12 months.

Examples cited in the survey include a patient who made jokes about a radiographer's headscarf and claimed they could not understand her despite her speaking with a mild Yorkshire accent. Another patient refused to accept a black radiographer, stating "Black people frighten me." A radiographer based in Bedfordshire who moved to the UK from Nigeria five years ago reported that patients frequently claim they cannot understand him despite English being his first language, whilst appearing to understand staff with Irish or Scottish accents. The Society of Radiographers has called for better recording and monitoring of such incidents, noting that some staff feel forced to accept racist remarks.

Prof Habib Naqvi, chief executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, described the cases as a "sobering reminder of the racism, prejudice and hatred that persist in our society". He stated that such incidents create "real fear, trauma and anxiety" among the diverse workforce providing care to patients. NHS England has condemned the abuse and stated that organisations must take action to prevent and respond to racism, including the option to refuse care to abusive patients in non-emergency situations.