Why it matters: The figures highlight persistent workplace harassment within the NHS despite improvements in other areas of discrimination, with 22% of black and minority ethnic (BME) staff – around one in five – experiencing harassment, bullying or abuse from other staff compared to 13.76% of white staff members.
The details: Board members at NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB) met yesterday to discuss the annual staff data relating to race, which revealed a mixed picture of progress and ongoing challenges.
Discrimination from managers, team leaders or colleagues showed marked improvement, with BME staff reporting falling from 17.39% to 11% in the year leading up to March. White staff discrimination also dropped from 6.2% to 4.7%, with both groups remaining below national ICB averages.
Harassment, bullying or abuse from colleagues remained stubbornly high, with 22% of BME staff affected – up from 18.18% the previous year and significantly higher than the 13.76% of white staff who reported the same. Patient harassment of BME staff also increased, rising from 13.6% to 17.6% and significantly exceeding national averages.
Other positive developments included the gap between white and BME applicants being shortlisted for posts narrowing significantly, plus disabled staff reporting less harassment from managers and feeling less pressured to work while unwell.
What they're saying: Amanda Lyes, the executive director of workforce and people, said the board should be proud of its improvements, but acknowledged more work was needed.
"We can be proud of what we have done over the last 12 months," she said, "we have had some positive outcomes, we acknowledge there is more we need to be doing, and we are not complacent on that."
Dr Ed Garratt, the ICB's chief executive, said although there was "really good progress", there were parts which made for "uncomfortable" reading. He pointed out it was a really stressful period for staff, particularly with tensions in the country at the moment.
Dr Freda Bhatti, the Essex primary care partner, said: "I am alarmed by what's going on in the country at the moment, and it's really important that we don't 'other' our colleagues, even more so now than before. It's making people feel, like myself, very vulnerable in our own country."
What's next: The report said the ICB would carefully monitor the responses of this year's staff survey and would ensure both members and the public were aware of its zero-tolerance policy.
The bottom line: Despite progress in reducing discrimination, significant disparities remain in workplace harassment experienced by minority staff at the local NHS board, prompting leaders to acknowledge the uncomfortable reality while committing to continued action.
