HEALTH LEADERS are calling for a change in the way incidents of racism are reported following a survey which unveiled the discrimination faced by international doctors who work in the NHS.
A UK-wide survey of 2000 doctors published last week from MDDUS, which provides legal advice to doctors, dentists, and other healthcare professionals across the UK, found that 58% of international medical graduates have been subject to thinly veiled, everyday instances of racism at work. Of that number, 72%, did not report the incident as they did not believe they would be taken seriously.
However, a separate survey for MDDUS found that just 9% of the public said they believed racist microaggressions are a frequent problem in the NHS. Fewer than one in five claimed to have witnessed it.
Responding to the findings, Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive at NHS Providers, which supports NHS foundation trusts in a range of areas including policy and analysis, said: “We are extremely concerned by the findings of this report, which lays bare the unacceptable racism experienced by International Medical Graduates (IMGs) in the NHS.
Respect
“Trust leaders are committed to ensuring that staff at every level are treated with dignity and respect – but they know more can and must be done.
“An inclusive and compassionate culture that provides a sense of belonging for a diverse workforce is critical for the delivery of high-quality care. The difference between IMGs’ reported experiences and the public perception of racism experienced at work is deeply troubling.”
“Creating an environment where staff feel supported, and all incidents of racism are addressed swiftly and effectively, would help IMGs feel safe to report racist behaviours.
“Reporting systems need to be more transparent and accessible, ensuring reported incidents are taken seriously and have visible outcomes including support for affected staff.
Cordery continued: “As the Messenger review outlined, inclusive leadership practice should be embedded at all levels of the health service. Training for all NHS staff on anti-racism, including cultural competency and active bystander training, is also vital.”
Abuses
Following the survey’s publication last week MDDUS wants to see the General Medical Council (GMC) use its influence on the UK’s healthcare system to transform the way concerns about racism are reported. This will enable doctors to achieve the new requirements the GMC has set for reporting incidents of racism and other abuses at work.
The GMC published its revised version of the Good Medical Practice ‘rule book’ for doctors in August and said it was intended to be a supportive guide.
Dr John Holden, MDDUS chief medical officer, said: “International Medical Graduates play a vital role in the NHS. It is a matter of huge concern that so many face abuse and unwarranted distrust from patients and colleagues.
“It has been shocking to see in detail the number and type of persistent racist microaggressions this group of doctors is subject to on a daily basis.
“The fact so many IMGs have little or no faith in the process for reporting their concerns should serve as a call to action for the entire healthcare system.
“This is especially the case for the GMC, given its concern to make whistleblowing effective.”
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2 Comments
“International medical graduates have been subject to thinly veiled, everyday instances of racism at work.
Of that number, 72%, did not report the incident as they did not believe they would be taken seriously.”
“Thinly veiled, everyday instances of racism,” dear international medical graduate, is the everyday experience for His Majesty’s African-skinned Subjects.
It is the price for living in the Caucasian tent.
I am far more concerned by dangerously incompetent foreign Doctors, many of whom are of African-heritage.
Moreover, I am concerned at the perceive inferior treatment, and surly attitude African-heritage people receive from African, and Asian-heritage foreign Doctors specially.
You are not necessarily comparing like with like. You are comparing one person’s perception or opinion with that of another’s. Hence you get discrepancy in numbers. The only way to really quantify if any racist incident has really taken place would be to investigate every instance by interviewing victim and aggressor plus any witnesses present. Otherwise you’re ignoring facts, taking one opinion and then stacking suppositions on top of assumptions and chasing rainbows. And all that at what cost?
I am not sure about the African doctor comment above. I went through the GMC data a few years ago and looked at the proportion of doctors accused of anything and whether they were disciplined or struck off. I had to use country of origin as a proxy for ethnicity but I found no statistically significant outliers other than from countries that had communist regimes. That itself may have been coincidental, as correlation does not equate to causation, or it might be a cultural difference around communication or even different clinical practice.