October is Black History Month - a time when we come together to celebrate the continuing contribution of Black nursing staff and students to our incredible profession.
RCN London’s Rising Star Awards do just that - check out this year’s winners, and join one of our Black History Month events happening around the UK. Everyone is invited, and you will be most welcome.
I have spent over 30 years in nursing in both the NHS and in independent health care, and while there has been some progress in recognising the value of nursing staff from all ethnic backgrounds, there is still much more that needs to be done to ensure equity.
Our profession is stronger for its diversity - in England, NHS workforce figures from June 2022 show that 10.7% of nursing staff and health visitors are Black, 14.5% are Asian and almost 10% are from Chinese, mixed, or other ethnic groups. But shockingly, the latest Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) report published in February shows the percentage of staff working in NHS trusts in England experiencing discrimination at work is 2.5 times higher for those from a Black or minority ethnic background than their white colleagues – 17% compared to 6.8%. These numbers have reached their highest level since WRES records began. Each statistic represents individuals facing discrimination in their workplaces, and this needs to stop.
As the professional body and trade union for nursing, the RCN aspires to be a world-class champion of equity, diversity, inclusion and human rights, providing workplace advice, support and representation to internationally educated nursing staff and fighting against any discrimination they may face.
At RCN Congress 2023, members voted on a resolution to ensure that the RCN is an anti-racist organisation. RCN Council has been working hard to put this mandate into action and as a first step, we have already agreed to re-establish our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. To deliver this mandate will require a huge amount of focus and participation from our members but as your President, I am committed to working with my Council colleagues to make sure this happens.
I sit on the Chief Nursing Officer’s Black and Minority Ethnic Strategic Advisory Group and am proud of work I’m involved in to combat racism in our health care services. There are many other RCN members and staff working hard to fight racism and injustice across the country – too many to name individually - but I’m glad all of them are helping to drive this agenda forward.
While racism and discrimination should be confined to history, sadly we know for so many this isn’t the case. Earlier this year, the RCN supported Michelle Cox, a member in the North West, to win a landmark race discrimination case against her employer. Michelle has now joined with the RCN Foundation to launch a new award which funds projects aimed at opposing racism and promoting racial equality. I urge you to consider applying if you have a project that could help build anti-racist workplaces.
The support the RCN offers to members facing discrimination is not just during Black History Month, but available 356 days a year, and extends to other circumstances.
I’m sure that like me, you’ve been watching the events in the Middle East unfold in horror. I’m very concerned that some of you may be directly affected and I want to encourage you to please seek support from the RCN if this is the case.
We are of course thinking of the nursing staff affected - they will be caring for and supporting people who are going through the most unimaginable trauma. We stand by them, and all the innocent colleagues and civilians caught up in this conflict.
RCN London’s Rising Star Awards do just that - check out this year’s winners, and join one of our Black History Month events happening around the UK. Everyone is invited, and you will be most welcome.
I have spent over 30 years in nursing in both the NHS and in independent health care, and while there has been some progress in recognising the value of nursing staff from all ethnic backgrounds, there is still much more that needs to be done to ensure equity.
Our profession is stronger for its diversity - in England, NHS workforce figures from June 2022 show that 10.7% of nursing staff and health visitors are Black, 14.5% are Asian and almost 10% are from Chinese, mixed, or other ethnic groups. But shockingly, the latest Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) report published in February shows the percentage of staff working in NHS trusts in England experiencing discrimination at work is 2.5 times higher for those from a Black or minority ethnic background than their white colleagues – 17% compared to 6.8%. These numbers have reached their highest level since WRES records began. Each statistic represents individuals facing discrimination in their workplaces, and this needs to stop.
As the professional body and trade union for nursing, the RCN aspires to be a world-class champion of equity, diversity, inclusion and human rights, providing workplace advice, support and representation to internationally educated nursing staff and fighting against any discrimination they may face.
At RCN Congress 2023, members voted on a resolution to ensure that the RCN is an anti-racist organisation. RCN Council has been working hard to put this mandate into action and as a first step, we have already agreed to re-establish our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. To deliver this mandate will require a huge amount of focus and participation from our members but as your President, I am committed to working with my Council colleagues to make sure this happens.
I sit on the Chief Nursing Officer’s Black and Minority Ethnic Strategic Advisory Group and am proud of work I’m involved in to combat racism in our health care services. There are many other RCN members and staff working hard to fight racism and injustice across the country – too many to name individually - but I’m glad all of them are helping to drive this agenda forward.
While racism and discrimination should be confined to history, sadly we know for so many this isn’t the case. Earlier this year, the RCN supported Michelle Cox, a member in the North West, to win a landmark race discrimination case against her employer. Michelle has now joined with the RCN Foundation to launch a new award which funds projects aimed at opposing racism and promoting racial equality. I urge you to consider applying if you have a project that could help build anti-racist workplaces.
The support the RCN offers to members facing discrimination is not just during Black History Month, but available 356 days a year, and extends to other circumstances.
I’m sure that like me, you’ve been watching the events in the Middle East unfold in horror. I’m very concerned that some of you may be directly affected and I want to encourage you to please seek support from the RCN if this is the case.
We are of course thinking of the nursing staff affected - they will be caring for and supporting people who are going through the most unimaginable trauma. We stand by them, and all the innocent colleagues and civilians caught up in this conflict.
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