Across the world, including here in Greater Manchester, life feels uncertain. The cost of living is a challenge, and many families are under pressure. On social media, arguments and anger get more attention than kindness or understanding. This can all foster division.
And it’s changing how some people behave – both online and in everyday life. It’s affecting our towns, our neighbourhoods, and the people who work hard to care.
Health and care staff across the UK are facing increasing levels of racial abuse and harassment. Colleagues are reporting that, while trying to do their job and care for those in need, they are being subjected to racist language, insults, offensive comments, exclusion and threatening or intimidating behaviour from the patients and their friends and families and sometimes by colleagues.
This is happening in clinical settings, within hospitals and mental health services, while staff are travelling to and from work and when visiting patients at their homes. It is not acceptable and should not be seen as part of the job.
This is a national issue, but in Greater Manchester we are taking action.
The Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership, 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 – ‘No Space for Racism. In Health and Care. Anywhere.’
The campaign aims to support our health and care workforce. It also aims to encourage other health and care staff and members of the public who witness abuse to make a stand against racism and discriminatory behaviour in any form.
If you experience or witness racism at work, there will always be an open door for you to report it.
Concerns can be reported safely, in a way that feels right for you, including:
- through your line manager
- via another manager
- your trade union representative
- a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian
- via bullying and harassment, complaints, or incident reporting procedures.
We recognise how deeply upsetting racism is and we are keen that colleagues know they are supported. There are a number of support offers available on the campaign website to help our workforce get the help and support needed.
Greater Manchester is a place built on care, kindness, and respect. We stand together. We will not let hate divide us. To find out more about the campaign, how you can report racist behaviour and the support available, visit the campaign webpage.