Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to help ensure that international medical students and trainees working in UK health services are protected from racial discrimination and workplace hostility.

Any form of racism or discrimination is unacceptable and has no place in our National Health Service.

The NHS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Improvement Plan, published in 2023, recognises that we benefit from the skills, expertise, and commitment of internationally recruited healthcare professionals and highlights the important role that NHS organisations have to play in making staff feel welcomed and valued at the start of their career. NHS organisations are expected to review their data by protected characteristics on bullying, harassment, discrimination, and violence and make plans to improve staff experience year on year.

Additionally, as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will introduce a new set of staff standards for modern employment which will include tackling racism and reducing violence against staff. The standards will be underpinned by the NHS Oversight Framework and the Care Quality Commission assessment framework.