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Battle for safety: How can we keep our healthcare workforce safe?

Jay Thinsa, Senior Operating Officer at Kingdom Healthcare, explores the impact of recent riots on healthcare professionals and the urgent need for the UK healthcare system to protect the future of its workforce.

It’s been over a month since riots and unrest hit nearly every major city in the UK, affecting millions of lives. The impact is still being felt, with tension and uncertainty lingering about what might happen next. For many, dismissing these weeks of disorder as a one-time event overlooks the real issues and fails to address the ongoing fear and discomfort that many people feel in their daily lives.

people in green and blue jacket standing on road during daytime

At Kingdom Healthcare, we work closely with NHS trusts and care homes to provide the staff needed to keep healthcare systems running smoothly. Our agency staff come from diverse backgrounds. Many of our workers come from overseas, similar to the NHS, where over 20% of staff are from outside the UK, from 214 other countries.

During and after the riots, we noticed a rise in last-minute cancellations from our minority ethnic staff, many of whom said they didn’t feel safe at work. There have been increasing reports of healthcare staff facing verbal and physical abuse while travelling to work or during their shifts. For example, the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) has reported a rise in racist abuse against Muslim NHS workers since the far-right riots began. With GPs being advised to travel in groups, it’s understandable that some workers are concerned for their safety and that of their families, leading them to avoid going to work.

The ongoing sense of unease following the riots has raised concerns among healthcare professionals that overseas workers, who are vital to the NHS, will no longer see the UK as a place where they can safely live and work. With NHS trusts already struggling to fill thousands of vacancies, the prospect of UK healthcare being seen as unsafe, unappreciated, and unwelcoming is worrying for the future quality of care.

Last-minute cancellations by agency workers undoubtedly add more pressure to the NHS. While Kingdom Healthcare strives to minimise these cancellations, when our staff don’t feel safe, it becomes difficult to fill the essential positions that keep the NHS running smoothly.

This situation also forces NHS trusts to pay higher rates to secure last-minute staff. Agencies who specialise in providing emergency cover often charge nearly double the hourly rate of other agencies, as they have no obligation to keep their rates affordable if they are not part of NHS framework agreements.

Care homes are similarly affected by last-minute cancellations, which often leads to higher overtime costs for permanent staff. Towards the end of the financial year, in February and March, these additional costs could lead to budget cuts, which might reduce the quality of care that patients and residents receive.

Fear and experience of discrimination, along with the concern that it could become more common following the riots, will affect the mental health and well-being of healthcare staff, which in turn impacts the quality of care they can provide. Poor mental health at work leads to more sick leave, lower motivation, and decreased job satisfaction.

This situation may also influence whether healthcare workers choose to remain in the UK. Faced with ongoing risks and feeling undervalued, they may seek out less demanding, less public-facing roles, or consider working abroad where they feel safer. Many people view a good job as one that gives them purpose, appreciation, and a sense of being valued. However, it’s clear that for many minority ethnic workers, this isn’t reflective of their current experience. Without meaningful change in the wake of the riots, many may choose to look for opportunities elsewhere.

So, what can healthcare facilities, NHS trusts, and employers do to make sure healthcare staff feel safe and supported after weeks of riots and unrest?

Some practical steps are being taken, such as a zero-tolerance approach to verbal and physical abuse towards healthcare staff. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has stated that people who are abusive towards NHS staff “can and should” be turned away. However, while these policies may offer some protection, they don’t address the underlying issue of microaggressions. It also will not address the emboldened attitudes of the far-right, who feel justified in their behaviour due to the increased presence of far-right views in the media. Preventing this kind of abuse requires proactive education efforts, not just reactive policies.

Alongside the NHS Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Improvement Plan, which outlines steps to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion, employers need to focus on creating a safe and supportive environment for minority ethnic GPs, nurses, and junior doctors. This includes addressing microaggressions, promoting inclusive workplace cultures, and ensuring leadership is accountable. Staff should feel confident in reporting any abuse and be assured that it will be taken seriously and dealt with properly.

purple and pink heart shaped illustration

It’s also important to maintain a diverse workforce in the future. Unfortunately, many minority ethnic healthcare workers have reported discrimination at work. For instance, minority ethnic ambulance staff are twice as likely to experience discrimination on the job. If discrimination is not tackled, both from colleagues and the public, the future of a diverse NHS is at risk. While recruiting a diverse workforce is important, creating a culture that supports their retention and career progression is equally vital.

In the healthcare industry, there should also be an emphasis on training and education efforts for staff. Anti-racism training can and should be delivered as frequently and crucially as health and safety training for everyone working in healthcare – as well as giving helpful advice on what to do if you feel you are being discriminated against in the workplace or by a patient or member of the public. Practicing empathy and understanding even in a work environment under extreme pressure is essential for everyone to feel safe and supported in the workplace.

The NHS and immigration have been synonymous since the year the Empire Windrush landed on UK shores, which was followed by the establishment of the NHS and a recruitment drive calling for nurses and healthcare workers. It is crucial that the recent riots are addressed properly by the healthcare industry, ensuring all workers feel safe and welcome in an industry that has been built up and upheld by immigration.

Images: Nicolas J Leclercq and Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona

More features:

Opinion: Realising the potential of social care

Violence in England is a pandemic, hearing young people is the antidote

Emily Whitehouse
Writer and journalist for Newstart Magazine, Social Care Today and Air Quality News.

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