The Royal College of Nursing reveals a 55 % increase in reports of racist abuse against its members over the past three years, calling for urgent action by employers and politicians
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced a sharp 55 % uptick in calls from NHS nurses reporting racist abuse at work over the past three years. The union warns that the real number of incidents is likely much higher, as many go unreported, and is demanding that employers step up protections and that politicians stop anti-migrant rhetoric.
Racist incidents are rising across the NHS
According to current trends, the number of calls to the RCN advice line is expected to exceed 1,000 in 2025 alone. This follows nearly 700 cases in 2022, almost 800 in 2023, and over 900 in 2024 —an upward trend that highlights the current state of being an NHS nurse. These figures are likely to be much higher, with more racial abuse and discrimination going unreported.
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: “These racist incidents are absolutely disgusting, and it is a mark of shame that they are rising like this across health and care services. Every single global majority nursing professional deserves to go to work without fear of being abused, and employers have a legal duty to ensure workplaces are safe. These findings must refocus minds in the fight against racism.”
Anti-migrant rhetoric could be putting staff at risk
The RCN is now calling upon health and care employers to prioritise tackling racism and engage with the RCN and other trade unions to agree on better ways to protect NHS nurses. They are also warning governments and politicians to stop their continued use of anti-migrant rhetoric, which we believe is putting staff at risk by emboldening people to abuse the global majority and migrant nursing staff.
Nicola continued: “If health and social care employers fail to make their workplaces a safe environment for nursing staff, it is unsurprising that those same staff leave, and their services are less safely staffed.”
The abuse includes accounts of nursing staff repeatedly being called racial slurs by their colleagues, employers failing to take action following racial abuse, and management telling a member “they shouldn’t have come to the UK” after unfairly denying an annual leave request. Patients and their families are requesting not to be treated by the global majority of nursing staff.
The RCN joined other health unions in signing a joint statement calling for an end to anti-migrant rhetoric and safer communities for all. Earlier this month, RCN also condemned the Westminster government’s plans to double the waiting period for nursing staff to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain – from five years to 10 – describing it as “pandering of the worst kind”.
Nicola continued: “The reality is that our health and social care system only functions because nursing staff of every ethnicity, nationality, and faith make it so. We are urging governments and politicians of all parties to recognise their role in tackling racism – and that must include an end to the use of anti-migrant rhetoric, which only risks emboldening racist behaviour.”
