Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of research, published in Chemist+Druggist on 3 August, which showed that 51 per cent of BAME pharmacy staff have considered leaving their jobs due to racial discrimination.

No assessment has been made of the research, published in Chemist+Druggist on 3 August, in respect to black, Asian and minority ethnic pharmacy staff and racial discrimination. However, equality and diversity are central themes in the NHS People Plan of 30 July 2020. This sets out practical actions for employers and systems to tackle the discrimination that some staff face and includes principles to apply across all National Health Service organisations, including for pharmacy staff employed by the NHS.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society published Improving Inclusion and Diversity across our profession: our strategy for Pharmacy 2020-2025 strategy in June 2020. This provides further information and pathways for tackling discrimination in pharmacy. A copy of the report is attached.