Pride in the multi-cultural workforce caring for our communities
During the past few weeks, we have become increasingly aware of heightened tension in our communities in relation to immigration and national identity.
For example, you may have seen St George’s flags appearing locally - on lamp posts, roundabouts, and other public spaces. In some areas, these have been linked to wider campaigns connected to immigration protest.
Some of the behaviour and language at those protests were deeply disturbing. We recognise the tension is undoubtedly having an impact on our workforce and the wider population too.
We also recognise that while the impact of recent events has deeply affected all our people and our local communities in their entirety, it has been felt, particularly strongly, by our global majority colleagues and their families as they have been the target of some of this abuse.
We, as the chairs of NHS organisations across Kent and Medway, have personally been made aware of the lived experience of some of the thousands of people who work for the National Health Service within our local communities and of patients too.
We want to assure everyone who works for the NHS in Kent and Medway that we do not and will never tolerate racist abuse of any kind towards our workforce.
The safety of NHS staff, many of whom go above and beyond every day, is incredibly important to us.
We are proud of our multi-cultural workforce, and we are determined that every employee should be able to go about their daily business without being subjected to abuse.
Everyone who works for our national institution should feel safe at work – our teams do incredible things every day to look after the people we serve and they shouldn’t have to do that in fear.
We encourage any member of staff who does suffer racial abuse – and any other kind of abuse - to report it. We firmly believe we are stronger when we stand together.
Cedi Frederick
Chair, NHS Kent and Medway
Dr Jackie Craissati
Chair, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust
Dr Annette Doherty
Chair, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
John Goulston
Chair, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust and Medway NHS Foundation Trust
