NHS nurses share the barrage of racism they face 'daily' | LBC 

Elderly white patient here (5 weeks in hospital 18 months ago). Age is no excuse for racism, and I don't like attempts to make it one.

We owe a massive debt to these doctors and nurses… I am eternally grateful for their efforts on my behalf…

I taught they said there is no racism in the UK that megan and harry was lying

Anyone who attacks emergency services staff should have their right to those emergency services put under review, with repeat incidence resulting in, No more service access. Let them pay for it in the private sector.

The NHS needs to do more to protect its staff from abuse. This is absolutely disgusting.

I don't want to pin down an individual but someone I know needs daily care and I pointed out that the UK's new immigration policy meant that foreign carers were increasingly unable to be found. They replied "that's OK, we don't want those sorts of people here anyway". The crazy thing is that I am an immigrant, they could so easily have been describing me.

"evil never dies, it only sleeps."

It’s why I’m leaving this country. 50 years born and bred and I’m still not one of you. Never will be. I’ve had enough, fought long enough and no more. I’m going where I’m wanted and respected

The set in ignorance and stupidity from racism is maddening!!! Even worse is when people not experiencing the racism say “THEY’RE sick of hearing about it, just ignore or get over it”!!! Just IMAGINE how the victims of racism FEEL RECEIVING THE HATE!!! Yet like these AWESOME callers we hold our head up with dignity and integrity we persevere!❤️

It just shows there is still a lot of underlying prejudice that needs to be addressed 😢

Dear Health profesisonals, thank you for all you do and you deserve nothing but respect 💜

I've spent every day for the last 3 months visiting my partner in intensive care and high dependence ward. The standard of care is unbelievable from all doctors and nurses 70% of who are black. Anyone doubting this is welcome to accompany me on my visits.

I was working as a triage nurse in A&E in 2000 a year after coming to UK from the Philippines when a male patient came in after I called him to be seen. He went straight into a tirade saying I was the reason why his children do not have work and that I was taking their jobs. The white NA who was with me at that time was shocked to witness this and I answered by saying, “ Excuse me, what does your children do? Did you send them to school? There are still a lot of nursing jobs open for them if they want to. Obvious they are too lazy to do this job cause that’s the reason I am here.” I left the room and got my white senior nurse to deal with him.

I'm a black male junior doctor that's experienced his share of micro aggressions but that last story in regards to the crime watch etc was truly devastating

I thought the establishment said there was ‘no racism in the UK’ and that the UK was ‘tolerant’ yet this Dr says she sees racism on a daily basis? So maybe Harry and Meghan had a point after all?? Oh dear

'You want a white, male doctor? Ok, but they are all busy until 3 days time and your leg's hanging off so unless I ask Dave the cleaner to get his Duck Tape out you can just lie there in pain until I get an apology...'

Ah but we don’t have racism in this country. We’ve got a report and everything. 🤦🏾‍♀️

As a 73 year old white man I found this exremely depressing. I'm used to defending my generation from "blame game" comments in the political channels and usually have arguments against whatever statement I am disagreeing with but when she said specifically that older people acted this way I felt my heart sink. She had no political agenda, just real life experiences that brought her to that conclusion. I've always thought myself somewhat atypical of my generation since my youth but never more so than after hearing that story. I'm so sorry these dedicated people in particular but also any others have to endure such abuse, especially from people who ought to have lived long enough to know better. Maybe it's different here in Scotland where as a country we all feel marginalised but I don't see that level, or indeed any such discrimination in my day to day life. Or maybe I don't see it because I'm not the target so the subtler attacks go unnoticed.

I was a Union Rep in the NHS, the pre Brexit racism my colleagues faced was atrocious, managers in the main turned a blind eye.

My wife works for the NHS organising and coordinating complex care for patients, most of them elderly, many end of life. She regularly gets patients and families refusing to allow carers into a home because their skin is the wrong colour. My wife usually tells them you either accept these carers or find alternatives yourself.

Many of my family who are 4th generation south Asian born in England ( same accent as the nurse, couldn’t get more English) work for the NHS the racism and aggression has only got worse. Other members of staff sadly feel uncomfortable and stick their head in the sand because of fear of abuse themselves. The abuse against people of colour is disgusting and this has only got worse with the rhetoric the government have chosen to promote. The idea that someone would be abusive to a carer is mind boggling.

Let’s be honest. This is not a NHS problem. It’s a UK wide problem where people in all industries experience this. Unfortunately if you look different or sound different you will be treated as less intelligent. I have seen so many colleagues over my short career get shut down because they look or sound different. I don’t think it will change anytime soon.

Nurses are wonderful people, but i don't think its a healthy decision to be so rude to someone working hard to keep you alive and healthy.

The most lovely kind efficient nurse I've come across in 13 years of being in the system due to cut snow I can't get treatment to be better, came from the Phillipines. She was surprised when I told her how nice she was how much I appreciated her card. Such a lovely lady. She had experienced workplace bullying from a superior within the nhs! I'm fed up of toxic people in this country no matter their colour or staff or patients who are ruining everything for everyone else who values those who look after us

Should just refuse to treat them and walk out.

I'm Eurasian, half South Asian and half European. The percentage of times my white 'friends'/colleagues have stood by and said nothing while someone else has made racially bigoted a 'jokes' or comments would be around 99% That's how oblivious they are or acceptable it has always been to them. These doctors and nurses are right, you learn to expect it from some people, but when it's the people you work with who let it slide, it just feels worse.

It's horrible what they have to go through. How outrageous. Thank you to our nurses.

"He was covered in swatikas tatoos... that's a lot of bad days" got me rolling 🤣🤣🤣

Here come the hate goblins to call these people liars...

The Tories have created an atmosphere of hatred. I feel sorry for these poor nurses having to put up with this. They don't deserve it.

I'm an immigrant working for the NHS as a paramedic, and I occasionally get comments along the lines of "you're taking a job from a British person." It's as if they don't understand what "shortage" means.

As someone who works in the nhs one of my colleagues was racially abused when i encouraged her to report it and i gave my witness statement nothing happened.

Being NHS doctor, it’s story of almost every day of our lives inside and outside hospitals. Some patients even refuse to talk to you because your accent is different despite they come in critical condition and you are the only one who is responsible for their urgent care. I remember when I was in Portsmouth, working as junior doctor there in October 2019 when hate and sentiments were at peak against Europeans and immigrants due to 2019 elections. I had habit to talk to my mom most of the days after job because of time difference, while walking back to my home, I was punched by some goons because I was speaking a different language. We came to UK legally, following the laws and regulations, passing UK license exams which are one of the most difficult exams in the world, competed doctors in UK in interviews to get a position and still we are struggling to be accepted. However, majority of our patients are sweet and they are grateful for what we do for them. We will remain here for the smile of those patients which we get when they are recovered and going back home.

Historically when those of us of colour speak up about this we've been told that we have a chip on our shoulder 😂

This is a perfect exemplification of the paradox of tolerance. In an effort to extend tolerance to the intolerant, one has to rescind tolerance for the victims of the persons intolerance

There's a shortage of nurses and doctors in many countries. Germany would be happy to have them work over here.

What these ladies described is outrageous! This is 21st century Britain?? I was gobsmacked!!

I love all our NHS workers no matter where they come from or what they look like.

I owe my life to the NHS and this makes my blood boil, how can this be still happening in 2023 , ignorance seems to be alive and well, If I ever heard such a thing I could not guarantee that I would not loose it at the perpetrator

My Mum was a nurse and looked Mediterranean but was Jamaican of the Windrush generation. It made her life easier for people to speculate that she was Maltese or South African without correcting them. As though the level of care they received would be different if they knew she was Jamaican. Such a weird British trait.

James, when you asked one of the Doctors "how do you get back up again?" You don't as they didn'tbring you down to begin with. You just climb higher.

Thank you for this piece, and thank you to those who called in with their experiences. Hearing their stories moved me alternatively to fury and tears in turn, the latter of which is completely pointless because it doesn't help anyone. The anger at least might lead to some change if more people were to listen to stories like this and have a similar reaction. I rely on the NHS - it's basically saved my life - and hearing some of the wonderful people who work in it, pretty much always because they simply wish to help people, relating stories like this is horrifying. Thank you, this stuff needs to be heard.

Its amazing that James can be both surprised that black people face racism in England at the whilst having downplayed what Dianne Abbott said about the additional racism we face compared to other marginalised groups. It's like he's pretending to listen

What is wrong with people??? This is outrageous 😮😮

I actually cried listening to these exchanges. I am truly ashamed of the Country that we have become, I can only have hope that we can improve.

Should have wheeled him out and left in the rain

I had a patient who demanded to be seen by an English nurse and an English doctor in Swansea,he waited a very long time.

My colleague the only back member of staff in our non nursing department faces this every day in the way some of the insular nursing staff treat her. Where we are it has been a mainly homogeneous population with anyone non white being from the university or oil industry and not a permanent resident, things are changing sadly some of the locals are slow to welcome this

I am a live in carer for the elderly and that generation are absolutely toxic....I am white, middle class, but am demeaned, belittled on a daily basis....I understand how the lady feels about the accumulation, I actually felt that I shouldn't be alive on the planet, because they deride and say hurtful things again and again...

I employed many nurses in long-term care, in South east you were less likely to employ RN's of colour but I remember a fabulous nurse who had an extraordinary ability to touch all her patients with hope and kindness - I also had patients who were prejudiced but with multiple co-comorbidities desperately in need of the best care, some refused to be treated by 'Sara', I had a duty of care to my patients but I would not tolerate racism - rock and a hard place

Part of this country is rotten to the core 😶

I have had patient's refuse to be washed, toileted, take water and any kind of care from me during my 11 years in NHS. Its hard but you know what...sit in ya own filth then

Brought a tear to my eye hearing this earlier. Shocking how our brave heroes are treated, thanks for speaking out about this my friend

The hospital where I work the management actively silence staff expressing concerns about racism in the NHS. But with my size and appearance patients rarely if ever dare to say anything to my face.😂😂😂

I have witnessed this happening in the hospital while I was there. I have apologised for the behaviour of others quietly. Before my heart problems I had a temper. Is might have been handled differently. Thank you James, for your intelligent input per usual. 💜🤓

Many nurses end up leaving the NHS going abroad and do very well!! 😮😮

As a health professional, a patient threatened to set me on fire and my family became I refused to say he had a disability for his benefit form. He didn’t have a disability and I refused to engage in this conversation once I explained my assessment of him. He became really angry and I had to call the police. Anger issues isn’t a disability for him to claim benefits! Sorry!

Conservative voters should not be allowed to use the NHS. let them go private. It is what they want after all.

This is tragic and disturbing!!!

I'm Irish I worked for 10 years in London. I left in 2007 and this I your face racism, prejudice and 'nationalism' was getting bad them. It was always there but began to really kick in then. I felt the UK was closing down to 'others'.

I've been in hospital a lot over the last seven years, So As a patient you do see some odd events. It can be horrible being in hospital, but its usually the nurses that keep you alive and help you recover. At least four nurses and four doctors have saved my life - I clearly remember all of them as individuals. I wish I could go back and thank them, but it is seldom possible. Where else in life do you get that situation? It is a very emotional memory for me.

Thank you James❤

I am a black woman, a Albania man misbehaved on me quite recently, when I told a Romania colleague of mine, he said the same phrase to me. Maybe he is having a "bad day". Lol is like us black people don't have a bad day.

Daily abuse must lead to super sensitivity, and paranoia. What an awful state to have to live in. This is such an embarrassment for the human race to put someone through that, especially those dedicated to helping people.

Absolutely right, racism is a daily occurrence. Usually patients against staff but also staff on staff. It is difficult to react to it robustly because as a doctor I would like to throw those patients out but I am not allowed to.

Dr. Sarah!! Come to Canada!! We need more BRILLIANT doctors!!😀😀

I am a white English speaking foreigner who live in England for eight years and I only received very very mild bigotry, you know, the question every foreigner gets asked in England, "Don't you miss home?". BUT I have seen three people being assaulted verbally for being foreign on the streets in London. Its also the only country I know of that you walk into a pub and the conversation is about immigrants (ruining the country) and football, not every time, but many times. It was different in the wealthier inner city where get more professionals going out for drinks after work, totally different clientele. Its also important to point out that I also met some of the loveliest human beings I know in my stay in England. Brexit surprised no one worldwide ... Brexit was brewing long before 2010. Nigel Farage gave them a voice in politics. I was living there when Labour was in power.

You don't think this happen just in the NHS? As a foreigner I came across very often to similar issues... and yes, the older generations seems to be the worst. After Brexit, it became much worse... I got "invited" a few times to go back home.

Yep heard it on numerous occasions 😢

Were it up to me, he'd be given three chances to answer the doctor's questions, and on the third refusal or silent treatment he'd be released without treatment.

Will love the NHS my entire life. I’m 30 and they’ve saved my life once. But it needs backing, they’re trying to convince us it doesn’t work by underfunding it

Thanks James for giving them voice

My wife is a psychiatric nurse, and the abuse given to the Indian nurses that work with her is unreal. When my wife said to one in particular, to reign it in and apologize, the patient did. After the incident, her boss above her warned her on the sly,to not say anything again as the patient can put a complaint in about her, and it would need to be investigated, as the patient is a sick person. 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

People are like: why is the NHS full of foreigners? People are also like: me get a job working for the NHS? Yeah no thanks.

Thank you for having this discussion. It’s long overdue

I would refuse to treat a patient covered with swasticas

Nurses were telling the same stories 20 years ago

I would have liked James to ask if it has got worse over the last 10-15 years.

Do not forget the racism many of those windrush nurses Faced in the 50s things don't change ay

Sending love to these wonderful health prprofessionals, respect x

A lagoon you know.....in Luton. 😂😂😂😂😂😂 Hilarious.

It's sad just sad that this sort of behaviour still endures through out our hospitals, it is obvious to any casual observer that our NHS would not be able to function without the dedication and commitment of all the people that work within regardless of their background or ethnicity. From the catering staff, porters, admin to the very highly skilled doctors, surgeons, technicians and nurses, having myself experienced up close in recent weeks through having my partner admitted into a ward, the absolutely crucial work that all these people put in day in day out it boggles my mind to think that someone would have the nerve to demine or racially abuse any of these life savers. It saddens me immensely and all I can do is say please don't let ignorance and bigotry take anything away from what you do for this country's people. You are all needed, wanted and most of all appreciated, real everyday heroes in my view. Thank you all from the bottom of my and my partners hearts.

Colleagues in NHS should protect each other when one of them is being abused by a service user, however a lot of times they fear getting a complaint as well from service users...

I find it utterly disgusting that a doctor and I don't care where you come from is subjected to this kind of behaviour . You an 11:53 d all your colleagues need to report this . WEEKLY and keep on reporting and logging so a detailed record can be built up. Something has to be done. This is inhuman,cruel AND ignorant. None of which can be excused!!

Looked after a patient in a certain ward NHS TRUST WEST SUSSEX. Patient was verbally agressive to me while giving medication. He told me he hates me for being black and that all black people are nenglects all we are needed here is to clean all the dirt etc. Escalated to the ward manager who spoke to him . Few minutes later he looks at me and tells me i will remain black infront of his eyes and nothing will change. I documented in my notes and left it like that. Til today one year down i have never looked at my self as useful to any one. I feel unwanted. Useless til today.

As a nurse we had a patient last week who would only be treated by white doctors and nurses and was very verbally aggressive

On behalf of humans, I'm so, so sorry!

People would not believe how crazy unkind some folks can be. I've experienced it when I was a new nurse. And no it's not in my head

People who are abusive to health care workers or having abusive tatoos shoud be refused treatment. We are too soft with thugs in society.

Yes. Thank you idea. It's so sad to hear, I experienced similar refusals and comments or questions as a carer, it was a shock to the system everytime I can't lie.

I'm also interested to know just how many medical staff we lost post-Brexit because of Brexit

Murdoch and his news media is responsible for much of this HATRED. 😒😒😒.........

Outrageous your colleagues should have your back however Doctors are notorious for only looking after themselves

Eugenics is built into medical education. Until these things are removed and text books are updated, then they'll always be an assumption that Black people have a higher pain threshold, or that they can tolerate further progression of diseases before intervention is required

Perhaps those individuals have a preference for Harold Shipman or Nicholas Chapman? 🤷‍♂

Is this just because of the underlying current of British nationalism that never went away? As an outsider, you can always sense it.

That’s disgusting I would never tolerate this. I experienced a lot of xenophobia when I started working as a nurse in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. Now I don’t tolerate it. I would always stick up for my colleagues

I've been in a mixed relationship since the mid 80's when dodging skinheads and the NF was a thing ... what's really changed in that time for my boys?

Always confront & correct people even on behalf of someone else being abused!

Yeah I couldn't be working for the NHS, would probably end up pulling the plug on these fools.