Wes Morgan Backing Campaign To Stop Racism Against NHS Staff

- Wes Morgan backing Show Racism the Red Card’s campaign
- Initiative aims to highlight the racial abuse suffered by NHS staff
- Show Racism the Red Card aims to combat racism through education

Show Racism the Red Card have launched a video which follows the stories of frontline NHS staff as they recount their experience of racial discrimination at work.

The charity is dedicated to combating racism in society through education, and utilises the high-profile status of football and football players to publicise its message.

Morgan, City’s Premier League winning captain, is backing the campaign alongside former Foxes player Gary Lineker, as well as Andy Robertson, Chris Kamara and Monty Panesar.

He said: “The NHS is one of our most treasured British institutions and I am sure you’ll all join me in thanking NHS workers for their heroic efforts both before and during the current Covid-19 crisis.

“NHS workers, like all of us, should not be subject to racism and deserve a workplace that is free from prejudice. Let us all join together to Show Racism the Red Card and support our key workers.”

With the NHS already experiencing staff shortages even before the unprecedented stress caused by the ongoing pandemic, the project hopes to highlight that racism within the NHS remains a systemic issue that cannot be ignored, with its survival dependent on its black and minority ethnic workforce.

Yvonne Coghill, Director in WRES Implementation Team for NHS England, added: “Since its inception in 1948 the NHS has been dependent on its BME workforce to deliver care and services to the population of this country. 

“We are proud that the NHS is one of the most diverse organisations in the country, with one in five of the workforce being from a background other than white British. The contribution that this group of people makes to enable our NHS to be the best healthcare organisation in the world cannot be underestimated, never more than now during the Covid-19 crisis.

“It is incumbent on all of us, whoever we are and whatever background we are from to stand up to and call out any kind of discrimination or racism in our service.”

Of those reported to have experienced racism whilst at work in the NHS, 34 per cent said the racism was frequent or regular, while 10 per cent said it occurred weekly or even daily. And most worryingly, almost one in 10 (8.8 per cent) of those who answered, left their jobs as a consequence of the racism they experienced.

Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC) was established in January 1996 and has a 24-year record of producing high quality educational films to combat racism in society.

Ged Grebby, Chief Executive of Show Racism the Red Card, said: “SRtRC is dedicated to tackling racism and promoting change in society through education. With this film, we’re hoping we can again contribute to a discussion around combating rife racism in society – this time in the NHS.

“With BAME communities forming part of the backbone of our Health Service, and with the Health Service being integral to our society, we felt compelled to raise awareness around the discrimination suffered here.

“We were delighted to have the support of the NHS to produce this film – and it’s particularly pertinent given the current pandemic. We’re also extremely grateful to have the likes of Wes Morgan on board on behalf of Leicester City Football Club.

“We hope together we can encourage a model of good practice that can be adopted in wider society.”

For more information about Show Racism the Red Card, please click HERE.