Racist riots and the NHS: What next? (Race Equality Foundation, 2 December 2024)

Summary

Leading researcher, developer, and former director of the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES), and prominent author of guidance on race equality in the NHS, Roger Kline, has published a new report: Racist riots and the NHS: What next? 

Building on his previous publications, the paper explains how little robust steps were offered to NHS practices during the riots, exposing the persistent failure of NHS leaders to deal with racism in the institution and amongst its leadership.

During the riots, health and care workers were targeted physically and on social media. Despite these numerous attacks, Kline underscores the lack of concrete support provided by national bodies during the crisis and the subsequent inaction from leadership to take the necessary steps to respond to the events. 

Kline calls out the riots as a ‘jolt to the system’ – but not a one off incident, rather the riots were examples of exceptional crises following years of mounting evidence that more must be done to address racism within Britain and the NHS.