Examples of racist abuse reported to its helpline include a nurse whose annual leave was denied being told by their manager that they should not have come to the UK, and another RCN member being told by a colleague: \u201cI want to remind you that you\u2019re not one of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other racist incidents reported to the union include a patient and their family repeatedly refusing care from a nurse because they said they didn\u2019t want \u201cpeople like her\u201d treating them and referring to the nurse as a \u201cslave\u201d. Another member was subjected to racist remarks including being told that you could only see black people\u2019s teeth \u201cwhen it\u2019s dark\u201d.<\/p>\n
Prof Nicola Ranger, the RCN general secretary and chief executive, said it was a \u201cmark of shame\u201d that racist incidents were rising across health and care services.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cEvery single ethnic minority nursing professional deserves to go to work without fear of being abused, and employers have a legal duty to ensure workplaces are safe. These findings must refocus minds in the fight against racism.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf health and care employers fail to make their workplaces a safe environment for nursing staff, it is unsurprising that those same staff leave and their services are [left] less safely staffed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The nursing union has urged the government to stop using anti-migrant rhetoric, which it said was putting staff at risk.<\/p>\n
Ranger said: \u201cThe reality is that our health and social care system only functions because nursing staff of every ethnicity, nationality and faith make it so. We are urging government and politicians of all parties to recognise their role in tackling racism \u2013 and that must include an end to the use of anti-migrant rhetoric, which only risks emboldening racist behaviour.\u201d<\/p>\n
The RCN also called on employers to prioritise tackling racism and to work with trade unions to establish stronger mechanisms to protect staff.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the Department of Health<\/a> and Social Care said: \u201cThese stark figures are shocking and our thoughts are with the victims of this vile abuse.<\/p>\n \u201cRacism and discrimination are unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our NHS<\/a>. The Prime Minister has ordered an urgent review of all forms of racism in the NHS, as part of wider efforts to tackle discrimination in the health service.<\/p>\n \u201cWe value the diversity of our NHS, which relies on the skill and dedication of nursing staff fromall backgrounds \u2013 hardworking staff, who keep our health service running caring for patients, must be treated with dignity and respect.\u201d<\/p>\n Quick GuideContact us about this storyShow The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know.<\/p>\n If you have something to share on this subject, you can contact us confidentially using the following methods.<\/p>\n Secure Messaging in the Guardian app<\/p>\n The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said.<\/p>\n If you don’t already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS<\/a>\/Android<\/a>) and go to the menu. Select \u2018Secure Messaging\u2019. <\/p>\n SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post<\/p>\n If you can safely use the Tor network without being observed or monitored, you can send messages and documents to the Guardian via our SecureDrop platform<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761563228_219_4000.jpg\")
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