NHS Grampian to launch anti-racism plan

NHS Grampian is launching an anti-racism plan, thought to be the first of its kind amongst Scotland's regional health boards.

The health board is to bring together colleagues and partners for a one-day Diversity Festival in October, where the plan to tackle racism will be launched.

Organisers say it will mark the beginning of a 12-month programme to raise awareness and offer training opportunities to all staff across its sites.

It comes after the University of Aberdeen Black Medical Society wrote an open letter back in 2019 to the university and NHS Grampian raising examples of the racism students experienced during their training.

NHS Grampian Deputy Chief Executive Adam Coldwells said: “NHS Grampian has a longstanding commitment to equality and diversity but there will always be more we can do. This is about making progress as a workplace and as a community where everyone feels supported, included and empowered. 

“The event will help colleagues to learn more about how to support wellbeing, to share examples of lived experience, to discuss ‘speaking up’ and learn more about key programmes including ‘Civility Saves Lives’. Awareness raising is a fundamental part of achieving progress, as is giving people a safe space to share their thoughts.” 

Dr Sneh Banik, a stroke medicine consultant physician at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and NHS Grampian’s Equality and Diversity Champion, said: "It's really important that someone stands up for you when you face racism. If people see or hear something that makes them uncomfortable, they should speak up because it can really help the person who's being hurt. 

“As we’re hoping to share through the plan, anti-racism is understanding that society has been built upon centuries of inequality – prioritising one race or culture over another – and that prejudice still exists. It’s not about being free of racism. It is about acknowledging racism or bias exists within us and wider society and making a commitment to challenge it.”