NHS IS RACIST Jun 24 2003


Hospital chiefs block career paths of ethnic docs

By Jill Palmer Medical Correspondent


RACISM in the NHS is stopping ethnic doctors climbing the career ladder, a report said yesterday.

Many Asian medics believe they are being snubbed for the best hospital jobs because of their backgrounds.

And the study by the British Medical Association said racism is rife in the health service and even seen as acceptable.

The report revealed managers regularly block access to medical training and hinder career progression for those from ethnic backgrounds.

One doctor quizzed, a British woman of Indian origin, told how her consultant did not know her name for four months.

In a theatre full of people he said: "The girl will do the hysterectomy. I can't remember funny foreign names."

Another British-Asian medic said when he asked his boss why he was not even shortlisted for a post, the consultant replied: "I chose you, I'm not prejudiced. Unfortunately others are."

The BMA wants medical schools to stamp out racism by including cultural diversity studies in the syllabus. And it is demanding consultants show leadership to weed racism out.

Of the 476 medical graduates quizzed in the study 76 were ethnic doctors and 86 per cent of them said their race played a major part in their career path.

The BMA said: "This does not make comfortable reading." A health department spokesman added: "There is no place for racism in the NHS."

And the the Commission for Racial Equality said: "This sets a poor example to others."

BOTTOM OF THE LADDER

THERE are 67,840 hospital doctors in the NHS of which almost 40 per cent, 26,090, are from ethnic minorities.

But they make up just 7,570 (31 per cent ) of the 24,400 consultants, while of the 3,680 house officers - the lowest grade - 2,580 (70 per cent) are from ethnic backgrounds.
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