Greater Manchester launches major health and social care anti-racism campaign featuring frontline staff

Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership (GM ICP), which brings together all the health and social care services, local councils and community organisations across Greater Manchester, has launched its own anti-racism campaign, with real staff sharing how racism has affected them.

Across the world, including here in Greater Manchester, life feels uncertain and at times, we can sense divides within our communities.

This can be seen both online—particularly on social media—and in everyday life, through changes in how people treat one another and a decrease in tolerance and respect.

It’s affecting our towns and our local neighbourhoods. It is also affecting the people who work hard to care for us.

We are seeing some health and care workers being treated unfairly because of their race or religion, with around 1 in 4 health and care staff in Greater Manchester reporting that they have experienced racism at work in the past year

This includes racist words, insults, being ignored or left out, being threatened and sometimes even violence. It is coming from the patients they are trying to care for, patients’ family and friends and even other members of staff.

Here in Greater Manchester, we’ve always stood up for what’s right, and we’re taking a stand. The GM ICP is working as one team to support staff and show that they are not alone.

The ‘No Space for Racism’ campaign, is launching publicly, with a video featuring staff from across the health and care system.

All the staff in the video, which includes a GP, surgeons, a social care worker, a nursing assistant and paramedic, have all personally experienced racism at work. It has affected their wellbeing, their confidence and has a knock-on effect in their personal lives.

By sharing their personal experiences, which are sadly not uncommon, the ‘No Space for Racism’ campaign aims to help people understand the impact racism has on staff, encourage respectful behaviour, and give all staff and members of the public, who may witness racism towards staff, the confidence to act.

Everyone has a role to play in making health and care a safer, more respectful place for all. If you witness racism, you can make a difference by:

Claudette Elliot, Chair of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Racism has no place in Greater Manchester and that includes our health and care services. It will not be tolerated.

“Our staff work hard to care for our communities – they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. When they experience racism, it affects how safe they feel at work, their wellbeing and can have an impact on them long after the moment has passed.

“I hope people see the campaign video and feel empowered to stand with our staff. It can feel hard to act. You might worry about saying the wrong thing or making things worse however, even small actions can make a difference. Step in if it’s safe to do so, check in with person affected, report it – all of these send a clear message – racism is not okay.”

The campaign also has a strong focus on ensuring that staff feel supported.

A lot of incidents of racism go unreported. That’s why, as part of the ‘No Space for Racism’ campaign, the GM ICP is making improvements to reporting processes and rolling out active bystander training to staff. The GM ICP is also making sure staff wellbeing is at the forefront, with a dedicated campaign webpage which has links to support offers for staff who have experienced or witnessed a hate incident.

Luvjit Kandula, Community Pharmacist, Director of Strategy and Pharmacy Transformation and Chair of Greater Manchester Primary Care Provider Board, said:

“Racism affects everyone. It can create unsafe and uncomfortable environments for staff and patients, which can affect trust, wellbeing, and the care people receive.

“Everyone has a role to play. By speaking up, supporting others and reporting what you see, you can help make health and care a safer, more respectful place for everyone.

“This campaign is about making sure people feel confident reporting these incidents and ensuring that our workforce feel supported after experiencing or witnessing a hate incident.”