Home > No Space for Racism. In health and care. Anywhere.

No Space for Racism. In health and care. Anywhere.

Across the world, including here in Greater Manchester, life feels uncertain. The cost of living is a challenge, and many families are under pressure. On social media, arguments and anger get more attention than kindness or understanding.

This can all create division between people, and it’s changing how some people behave — both online and in everyday life. It’s affecting our towns, our neighbourhoods, and the people who work hard to care for us.

In Greater Manchester, some health and care workers are treated unfairly because of their race. This can happen when patients, members of the public, or even other workers say or do hurtful things. This might include using racist words, making insults, leaving people out, acting in a threatening way or sometimes even violence.

In the last 12 months alone, around 1 in 4 of Black and minority ethnic staff reported experiencing harassment, bullying, or abuse from patients, relatives, or the public. Many more cases are not reported. This means there is a big difference between what workers go through and what is officially recorded.

Here in Greater Manchester, we’ve always stood up for what’s right, and we’re taking a stand. The Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership — bringing together the NHS, councils, and community organisations — is working as one team to support staff and show that they are not alone.

What are we tackling?

We are taking a stand against racism, whether it comes from patients, the public, or colleagues, and against the hidden harm staff feel when they think they have to put up with it. Racism has no place in health and care, and staff should never feel alone.

The No Space For Racism campaign

Staff across Greater Manchester have spoken up about the racism they experience at work. Their voices have shaped this campaign and the action we are taking. Image of a hospital ward with text. Text reads No Space For Racism. We stand with staff. We act against racism.

The campaign aims to help people understand the impact racism has on staff, encourage respectful behaviour from patients and the public, and give staff the confidence to speak up and report incidents. It also makes clear that racism will not be tolerated in any health or care setting, from anyone.

We know that some patients may have illnesses or conditions that can affect how they behave or communicate. This can sometimes lead to words or actions that are racist. This can be distressing for everyone involved. However, it does not reduce the impact on staff. This campaign is about making sure staff are supported, protected, and treated with respect.

Together, we are taking action to challenge racism and better support staff.

This campaign will be an ongoing programme of work for the Integrated Care Partnership. We will continue to build on it and progress the work to ensure that everyone knows there is No Space for Racism in Greater Manchester. This page will be regularly updated, so please keep checking back.

Staff across Greater Manchester have shared their experiences of racism at work and how it affects them and their work.

Racist abuse: staff have been called names, shouted at, threatened, or sent hate mail, from patients, the public, and sometimes colleagues.
Being left out or treated differently: some staff are ignored, excluded, or treated unfairly because of their background, religion, or appearance.
Having to keep working after incidents: many staff feel they have to carry on even after being shouted at, targeted, or treated badly, leaving them upset, shaken, and stressed.
It can happen anywhere: abuse can happen in hospitals, GP practices, during home visits, or even in public when staff are in uniform.
Health and care workers are not always sure what support is available: they don’t always know who to report abuse to, whether it is their employer, a regulator, HR, or a union.
Reporting can feel awkward and sometimes staff feel like they need to get on with their work for the sake of other patients.
Staff worry that they will be treated differently or appear difficult if they report abuse

Quotes from health and care staff

“I got hate mail and animal poo sent to the practice. We all felt unsafe that day.”

“I was about to do a home visit when the patient said they didn’t want to be cared for by someone like me. I felt very shocked that it was because of the colour of my skin.”

“A patient shouted racist insults at me in the ward. I had to step away for a moment to compose myself before continuing my work.”

“Comments made while I was on the bus in uniform made me think twice about travelling alone or in uniform.”

“Even when I report incidents, I’m never sure what will happen next or who will support me.”

How our workforce can report racism

Our message to our workforce is that if they experience or witness racism in any form at work, there will always be an open door for them to report it.

Concerns can be reported safely, in a way that feels right for them, including:

through their line manager
via another manager
a trade union representative
a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian
via bullying and harassment, complaints, or incident reporting procedures.

The most important thing is if people do report it, they do not have to face it alone.

All health and care organisations, including social care, community pharmacies, dental, GP and optometry practices and NHS Trusts, have a duty of care, policies and practices, to protect our workforce and to take action against bullying, harassment, discrimination and all forms of racism.

No matter how small the incident appears, it could be part of a bigger and wider pattern of behaviour and every incident needs to be reported.

Supporting our workforce’s health and wellbeing

Good wellbeing is when we are all able to be at our best – at work and home. At times, things can feel challenging, leaving us feeling frustrated or lonely, concerned about finances, health, or feeling down, anxious or worried. Experiencing racism on top of all these factors will feel overwhelming and deeply upsetting. Its important that as well as feeling confident to report these incidents that our workforce feel supported after experiencing or witnessing a hate incident.

A toolkit has been developed by NHS Greater Manchester for the health and care workforce, including colleagues in the NHS and social care, those in the voluntary sector, those delivering health and care services in the private sector and our unwaged workforce too.

There are lots of support offers out there, and that this can feel overwhelming at times and hard to connect with when we need them the most. That’s why this toolkit is simple, practical and relevant to people working across health and care.

The toolkit is regularly updated with support offers, and you can view the latest version online.

Be an active bystander – how the public can report racism

Racism is wrong. It makes work harder and less safe for staff, making people feel stressed, scared and excluded. Taking action against racism helps create a fair and supportive environment for everyone who works in health and care.

If you witness a possible hate crime or incident, you can report it in a number of ways

Anyone can report hate crime by using an online form or by calling 101 or visiting your local police station. Always call 999 if there is immediate danger, or the situation is an emergency. Further details can be found on GMP’s website.
True Vision is a national website that allows you to report a hate crime online without needing to visit a police station
Community Security Trust (CST) A charity where you can report antisemitism and related threats and access support
Tell MAMA is a national project supporting victims of anti-Muslim hate and monitoring anti-Muslim incidents. The British Muslim Trust provides confidential support and reporting for victims of anti-Muslim hate

We are currently working on the roll out of active bystander training to teach people to recognise situations where intervention may be needed and how to respond effectively and safely. More information will be shared as the programme develops.

Leadership commitment

Leaders across Greater Manchester are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for health and care staff.

Image of Claudette Probert. Quote reads I see the impact of racism and feel a responsibility to challenge it. I hope this campaign drives honest conversations and empowers staff, so everyone feels safe and respected. Image of Evelyn Asante-Mensah. Quote reads this campaign is really important. Staff come to work to care for people, not face racism. OI hope it helps people understand how harmful and hurtful racism is.

Supported by all NHS organisations in Greater Manchester, this campaign reaches tens of thousands of staff across hospitals, GP practices, care settings, and social care providers, driving action against racism across the region.

Supporting internal change

Health and care organisations across Greater Manchester are working together to strengthen how racism is addressed and how staff are supported.

This includes:

Strengthening reporting and support processes
Helping managers respond consistently to racist incidents
Making sure staff know where to get help
Building a culture where racism is challenged and staff feel safe to speak up

As this campaign progresses we will update on how organisations are putting these ideas into practice so our workforce feel safe, valued and supported

Greater Manchester is a place built on care, kindness and respect. We stand together. We will not let hate divide us.

Learn more about the No Space For Racism campaign and get involved by emailing gmhscp.gm-campaigns@nhs.net