NHS England has published new guidance for GP practices on how to handle racist incidents, whether from patients or colleagues, in the wake of ‘civil unrest’ across the country.
This includes taking a ‘robust’ disciplinary approach to staff involved in racist behaviour inside or outside of work, as well as ensuring staff know what to do if they are subjected to racism in the workplace.
The guidance encourages GP practices to engage the ‘whole team’ to understand how they feel about the ‘current unrest’, and said there must be ‘mechanisms’ such as remote working in place to support staff who fear for their personal safety. Staff should also know how concerns can be raised.
NHS England’s letter said that the ‘racist and Islamophobic riots’ over recent weeks have had a ‘deep impact’ on both patients and staff.
Last week, GPs and practice staff were targeted with abuse and violence amid the riots that broke out after an attack in Southport, prompting the RCGP to warn GP teams to ‘remain vigilant‘ about potential threats to safety.
Now NHS England has sought to ‘quickly’ put out guidance for providers, emphasising the importance of ‘empowering staff’ to speak up about racist behaviour while giving them the ‘confidence that their organisation will back them’.
All staff have a responsibility to report where they see acts of discrimination, whether it affects them directly or not, it said.
NHSE has directed GP practices to legal advice, which addressed staff conduct outside of work, including on social media.
The advice, put together by law firm Capsticks on behalf of NHS Employers, said employers can investigate conduct outside of work if it impacts the ‘trust and confidence’ in the staff member, or the GP practice ‘reputation’.
Any investigation into staff can be based on evidence such as social media posts, screenshots, or witness statements.
However, the legal advice warned that any disciplinary ‘action should balance individuals’ rights to freedom of expression, and to peacefully protest where relevant’.
NHS England said that when dealing with staff involved in civil unrest, GP practices can conclude any investigation and implement an ‘appropriate sanction’ before the police conclude proceedings.
The guidance said: ‘We support a robust and proactive approach to applying local disciplinary policies where staff are allegedly involved in discriminatory behaviour, inside or outside of work.’
NHS England also provides advice on refusing to provide treatment ‘where a patient’s behaviour constitutes discrimination or harassment towards staff’, explaining that all healthcare settings should have policies in place relating to abuse, violence and racism against staff that detail processes ‘to trigger a refusal of treatment’.
Where behaviour potentially constitutes ‘criminal acts’, it should be reported to the police as soon as possible.
Last week, the BMA also released guidance on how to support colleagues and patients facing racism and fascism. It suggested that workplaces should help staff leave early in the event of becoming aware of planned riots and that GPs should be familiar with practice and local policies on abusive patients, as well as be prepared to use their ‘warning and off-listing procedures’.
A version of this story was first published by our sister publication Pulse
