Surge in UK nurses reporting racial abuse at work, Union data reveals

The United Kingdom has seen a rise in reports of racial abuse and discrimination against nurses at work, according to data released by a nursing union, reported PA Media/dpa.

Some of the complaints made by ethnic minority nurses this year include being called a “creature” and “slaves” by patients, as well as abuse by fellow staff members, with one nurse reporting a colleague said they wanted to “remind you that you’re not one of us”.

Calls to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) advice line are expected to surpass 1,000 in 2025, continuing a steady rise from nearly 700 in 2022 to about 800 in 2023 and over 900 in 2024.

The union warned that the real number of incidents is likely higher, as much abuse will go unreported.

The RCN said the “racist disorder and anti-migrant protests” earlier this year could have emboldened people to abuse ethnic minority and migrant staff.

A hotel in Epping, Essex, became the focal point of anti-migrant protests and counter-protests earlier this year, which eventually led to demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum seekers across the country.

The RCN signed a joint statement with other health unions last week, demanding that politicians put an end to “a sustained campaign of anti-migrant rhetoric”.

General secretary Nicola Ranger said: “These racist incidents are absolutely disgusting, and it is a mark of shame that they are rising like this across health and care services.

“Every single ethnic minority nursing professional deserves to go to work without fear of being abused, and employers have a legal duty to ensure workplaces are safe. These findings must refocus minds in the fight against racism.

“If health and care employers fail to make their workplaces a safe environment for nursing staff, it is unsurprising that those same staff leave, and their services are less safely staffed.

“Employers must prioritise tackling racism and work with trade unions to develop stronger mechanisms to protect staff.”

She continued: “The reality is that our health and social care system only functions because nursing staff of every ethnicity, nationality and faith make it so.

“We are urging government and politicians of all parties to recognise their role in tackling racism - and that must include an end to the use of anti-migrant rhetoric, which only risks emboldening racist behaviour.”

A National Health Service (NHS) England spokesperson said: “Racist abuse towards nurses and other NHS staff is completely unacceptable and there is no place for racism or any form of discriminatory behaviour in health and care.”

- Bernama

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