Racism in the UK medical sector has always been a big problem. 6 out of 10 racial minority people face overt or covert Racism in the NHS. Since the start of far-right riots in recent months, Racism has been on the rise in Britain. One of the sectors that has seen an increase in Racism is the UK health sector. Muslim employees working in the NHS announced that since the beginning of the recent riots in the UK, the harassment of racists against these Muslims has increased. But this problem is not only related to recent months, and there has been Racism in the English healthcare system in the past. This article examines the prevalence of Racism in different departments of British medicine.
Racial discrimination against cancer patients
The Guardian has acknowledged the existence of Racism in the UK medical sector in a report. The Guardian has reviewed 126,000 medical records over the past decade. Research shows that people of colour in the UK have to wait longer for cancer diagnosis results than white people. A study of waiting time data was conducted by the National Health Service in England. In this study, it was found that blacks and Asians need up to 6 weeks longer than whites to be diagnosed with cancer. The manager of the Royal Free Hospital has announced that 3,615 patients who were waiting for treatment at this hospital died before the treatment started.
Disrespect for non-white pregnant women
Disrespect for non-white pregnant women has become the norm in the UK healthcare system. In many cases, they are shouted at while half-naked. They also disrespectfully asked about their immigration status. These women have even been threatened in some cases. Experts have also said that their colleagues call non-white women offensive nicknames and call Chinese women dirty and Asian women smell of work. The midwives who participated in the survey said their colleagues had created a toxic and fearful atmosphere in the obstetrics and gynecology departments. In this situation, the employees were afraid to speak against Racism.
Racism in the UK medical sector
A civil organization announced that Racism in the UK medical sector had endangered the lives of black women, Asians, and racial minorities. The charity Birth Rights, citing the results of the surveys, stated that this often has devastating consequences for these women. This report shows more than 300 women and experts have expressed their experiences of injustice in obstetrics and gynaecology services. Black women, compared to white women, die four times more during pregnancy and childbirth in the UK obstetrics and gynaecology department. Women of Asian descent and racial minorities are twice as likely to die.
The main complaint of racial minorities during pregnancy
Insecurity is the main complaint of black, Asian, and ethnic minority women during pregnancy in the UK. The pleas of black women, Asian women, and racial minorities are not being listened to in obstetrics and gynecology. Also, doctors and nurses ignore their pain complaints. Racist thoughts endanger their health. Also, non-white women have said that because of their skin colour, they have less access to maternity services in gynaecology and obstetrics departments in the UK compared to white women.
Organised Racism is the leading cause of racist violence in the UK
In a report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Amnesty International stated in detail that successive governments in the UK have failed to deal with organized racial discrimination in this country. This issue has caused riots supported by the extreme right in this country. Organized Racism is the leading cause of racist violence on the streets of the UK.
The role of far-right parties in increasing Racism in UK medical sector
In the report of Amnesty International, the role of extreme right-wing parties in the UK in racial discrimination against people of colour has been discussed. The report states: “Racist and Islamophobic violence unfolding on the streets of the UK highlights the failures of successive governments to make progress on racism.” Amnesty International’s report has spoken about four years of inequality faced by people of colour throughout the judicial, health, labour, and immigration systems.
Muslim NHS workers worry about increasing Racism
The start of far-right riots has led to increased persecution of racial and religious minorities in the UK. There have been many reports in the cities of Manchester and Belfast about the concerns of Muslim workers in the UK health sector. Salman Waqar, the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) head, said this. Due to these problems, Muslim doctors have to close their offices early.
Absence from work for fear of Racism
About 11,000 Egyptian doctors, dentists, and pharmacists are members of the British Egyptian Medical Association (Bema). The members of the association have also faced more Islamophobia after the start of the far-right riots in England and are worried about their lives. Dr Salman Waqar says that since the beginning of the extreme right-wing riots in the UK, the number of racist abuses against the members of this association has increased sharply. Bima has about 7 thousand members. Bima has announced that several Muslims working in the NHS are afraid to come to work.
Increasing the waiting list of hospital patients
Riots and attacks on immigrants and Muslims in the UK have caused fear. For this reason, British healthcare workers do not go to their workplaces for fear of being attacked. The increase in racist attacks has caused the cancellation of hundreds of patient examinations and surgeries. Meanwhile, more than seven million six hundred thousand patients are on the waiting list for treatment in hospitals. Amanda Pritchard, the chief executive of NHS England, says that Racism in the UK medical sector has caused many employees of this organization to be afraid. This situation should not continue.
Normalisation of Racism in the UK medical sector due to negligence and lack of planning
Disrespect for racial minorities is becoming the norm in the NHS. This issue has increased after the extreme right riots. The UK government should formulate strict laws in this field and supervise its implementation. The British health system failed to win the consent of ethnic minorities. The British health system has subjected them to all kinds of discrimination. This problem has existed since the past. There is still no solution to Racism in the UK medical sector.
