People Who Are Racist To NHS Staff Can Be Refused Care, New Health Secretary Says
7 Aug 2024
People who are racist to NHS staff in health settings “can and should” be refused care, new Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said.
The Government’s stance is that they “will not tolerate” more violence seen across England in the aftermath of the Southport stabbings.
His comments follow an attack on two Filipino nurses in Sunderland on Friday evening, in which their taxi was pelted with rocks as they travelled to work to provide emergency cover during the unrest.
Speaking during a visit to the Leeds Cancer Centre, Mr Streeting said the NHS had a “zero tolerance” approach to racism.
“The government will not tolerate the continuation of this mindless thuggery by far-right agitators in our country,” he said.
“I was appalled by reports of violence directed towards Filipino nurses in Sunderland – these were nurses going into work to provide emergency care and their attackers bring shame on our flag and shame on our country. I will not tolerate, under any circumstances, NHS or social care staff in any health or care setting being subjected to intimidation, harassment or racist abuse.”
He added: “People who are abusing NHS staff can be turned away, and should be turned away, if that is the way that they are treating our staff. I think the overwhelming majority of people in our country are utterly disgusted and appalled by the racism and violence on display.”
“I think we are lucky to have people in our NHS and social care sectors who come from around the world to provide great, compassionate care. And those people that have hijacked our flag for their mindless, racist thuggery – they have no idea about this country’s history or heritage, and they have brought enormous shame on our country by attacking NHS staff in this way.”