NMC investigates ‘discriminatory’ email
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NMC investigates ‘discriminatory’ email

An apparently discriminatory comment sent to a Nigerian nurse about her nationality is being investigated by the nurse regulator and an NHS commissioning group.

Nursing Standard. 36, 6, 6-6. doi: 10.7748/ns.36.6.6.s2

Published: 02 June 2021

The comment, forwarded in an email from a member of staff at NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group to a general practice job applicant, reads: ‘Another one but again Nigerian’.

The woman’s daughter condemned the message’s ‘incredibly discriminatory language’, stating on Twitter: ‘This was clearly not intended for us to see, but it confirmed what is being said behind the scenes.’ She said her mother had worked through the pandemic and had survived COVID-19, having contracted coronavirus at work.

The clinical commissioning group insisted it ‘stands against all forms of racism and discrimination’ and is now investigating the matter urgently.

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) chief executive Andrea Sutcliffe said: ‘We are aware of the unacceptable comment, which is another example of the long road ahead to stamping out discrimination. ‘We will work with the employer and the individuals involved to ensure the right support is provided and appropriate action is taken.’

Ms Sutcliffe added that the NMC’s code of conduct states that registrants must not only treat people in a non-discriminatory way, but also challenge prejudiced attitudes and behaviours.

According to NHS data there were 1,902 Nigerian nurses and health visitors working in England as of January 2020, making them the ninth largest nationality group among nurses and health visitors in the NHS in England.

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