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‘Scandal’ that in 2018 our NHS is still failing its BAME staff says RCM on new Government initiative

on 23 October 2018 Leadership Pay and Agenda For Change

Today the UK Government has published a new goal to eliminate the ethnicity pay gap in the NHS, and has committed to ensuring that black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) representation in senior leadership matches that across the rest of the NHS by 2028.

Commenting on the announcement, Suzanne Tyler, Executive Director for Services to Members at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), said: “This is a welcome initiative. It is a concern – indeed it is a scandal -  that in 2018 our NHS is still failing its BAME staff in this way. Along with this lack of pay parity and under representation at leadership levels, our own research* found that BAME midwives are also more likely to face disciplinary action or dismissal than their non-BAME colleagues. This is simply not good enough and this is why initiatives such as this announced today are welcome and important.

“Every organisation including the NHS must strive and ensure that all staff are treated the same in every aspect of their work life including pay. Anything less than this is unacceptable.”

*See the RCM publication ‘BME Midwives, Disciplinary Proceedings and the Workplace Race Equality Standard’ publication. This is the results of five years of freedom of information requests the RCM made to NHS trusts in London about the numbers of BME midwives involved in disciplinary proceedings and the outcomes.

The Government announcement can be read at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-pledges-action-to-eliminate-ethnicity-pay-gap.

To contact the RCM Media Office call 020 7312 3456, or email [email protected].

Note to editors

The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.

 

ENDS

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