What kind of a week have you had?
I am aware that it is not a question that invites a warm answer from an increasing number of people working in the real NHS… where the patients are… as No19 found out. (more here)
It’s also been a worrying week, for other reasons.
The Messenger review of leadership and management received a luke-warm response and the RCN conference struggled to get the sort of media traction it once enjoyed.
However, coincidentally, they shared a theme… racism in the NHS.
Messenger pointed to it as central. The RCN graphically demonstrated the outcome, in a survey… black and ethnic nurses don’t get promoted as frequently as white nurses.
Messenger’s solution; standardised, top-down induction, more management, plus CQC inspections to tell us it’s still happening.
The RCN; called on HMG to use the opportunity of its reform of human rights legislation, requiring health and care organisations, regulatory bodies and inspectorates to tackle racism.
More management, more laws? Naaah…
It’s a pity the ex-Marine didn’t talk to the Matrons… but the military don’t do Trades Unions.
It’s a stark picture. In 2022 we are still troubled by racism. So is football, employment, housing, the police service and all the rest.
If you are interested in how bad it is, there’s a very good website. HMG’s ethnicity facts and figures.
Random sample of factoids;
- Mixed white/black Caribbean people are the most likely to become the victims of domestic abuse.
- Black males are more likely to use illicit drugs than another group.
- White British households were less likely to be overcrowded than all other ethnic groups, combined.
- A lower percentage of Black Caribbean people had confidence in their local police, than White people.
- Pupils from the Chinese ethnic group had the highest entry rate into higher education.
- White pupils had the lowest entry rate into higher education.
- The lowest employment rate was in the combined Pakistani and Bangladeshi ethnic group.
There are pages and pages of data. I just flipped through and cut-n-pasted whatever came up… and it tells us what?
A cycle of inequality, a spiral of division, a circle of decline?
Looks like it.
We know there’s an issue but what is at the heart of it? We know, if a talented, black nurse doesn’t fulfil her potential, she loses. But, we all lose. We are denied access to her skills and experience… because of the colour of her skin.
Messenger has no answer. The RCN, wanting to pile-on more laws and regulation… no answer.
The European Social Survey asked some tough questions that go to the heart of the problem; the belief that there are innate differences between racial or ethnic groups.
This is grim reading and you won’t like it;
One in five Brits agree that ‘some races or ethnic groups are born less intelligent’ and 44% say that ‘some are naturally harder working.’
And, you won’t like this, either;
1 in 4 people, in Britain, self-describe as racially prejudiced. This hasn’t changed in three decades.
Ugly, isn’t it?
Racism isn’t a problem unique to the NHS, or the Military, or sport or the police.
It’s a problem for society.
The NHS, the biggest employer in our society, is a salmi slice of our nation.
That means it will have more than its fair share of geniuses, compassion, skill, brains, love… and racism.
In his seminal report, Snowy White Peaks, Roger Kline points out the absence of Black and Minority Ethnic NHS staff from the leadership of the NHS is serious, systemic and shows no sign of improving.
In London, 41% of the NHS workforce is from BME backgrounds.
The proportion of London NHS Trust Board members from a BME background is 8%.
He speaks of confusion and denial.
The answer?
Pretty obviously it isn’t laws, or inspection, or managers. We’ve had plenty of that and it hasn’t worked.
The answer is us.
It’s a job for us all. Find people who are different to you and celebrate them. Better than you, whoever they are, promote them…
… and when life opens the door of success for you, hold the door open.
Have the best weekend you can.
News and Comment from Roy Lilley
Contact Roy – please use this e-address roy.lilley@nhsmanagers.net
Reproduced at thetrainingnet.com by kind permission of Roy Lilley.
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