Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Report reveals Birmingham’s doctors face racism and bullying

Leaders express concern despite wellbeing group for medical residents

Report reveals Birmingham’s doctors face racism and bullying
Absences have risen at the Queen Elizabeth and Heartlands Hospitals in Birmingham, as well as Good Hope in Sutton and Solihull Hospital

YOUNG doctors in Birmingham hospitals face a ‘shocking’ number of incidents of bullying, racism and sexism from patients and other staff.

The Medical Academy Annual Report was presented to a University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust board meeting, which revealed the data.


The academy is responsible for ensuring resident doctors – the new name given to ‘junior doctors’ – are able to work in a safe learning environment.

A Doctor Wellbeing Group was set up in 2023 to champion wellbeing and run programmes to improve working conditions for them.

A survey conducted in March 2023 raised a number of areas identified as needing improvements. When they were surveyed again in May last year, improvements had been made, but there were still concerns.

In May 2024, 47 per cent of resident doctors surveyed said they had experienced bullying or harassment – slightly less than 50 per cent the year before.

Those who experienced sexism or misogyny fell to 22 per cent in 2024, 10 per cent less than the previous year. But resident doctors who experienced racism rose to 20 per cent in 2024 compared with 16 in 2023.

Other areas needing improvement were residents who were able to take all their annual leave dropped to 73 per cent from 85 per cent the year before.

Residents who receive their rotas with six weeks’ notice fell to 61 per cent in 2024 from 65 per cent.

Improvements had been made in other areas, with 71 per cent of resident doctors aware of the Wellbeing Officer support compared with 56 the year before.

Residents who experienced issues with contacting their rota co-ordinator also fell from 62 per cent in 2023 to 41 per cent last year.

Non-executive director, Professor John Atherton, said: “There are still some shocking numbers there – about 50 per cent of our trainees report bullying or intimidation, 20 per cent report racism in some form.

“When you go into it, some of that is from seniors and colleagues which is shocking and we need to deal with that. But even more is from patients. What are we doing about that? We’re a big, multicultural society and it’s quite shocking to hear that racism is happening from patients. I’m quite surprised at the level we’re seeing.”

Chief medical officer, Professor Kiran Patel, said: “We have a 20 per cent prevalence of sexism and racism and that is worse than most benchmark organisations and that comes from both staff and patients. “For patients we do have a ‘yellow card’ system in place. We probably don’t issue as many as we should but we are looking at that again. In ED, we do have hostility towards medical and nursing staff.

“We’ve opened medical concerns reporting for trainees anonymously. We are seeing that come through the system.”

(Local Democracy Reporting Service)

More For You

Southport

Floral tributes left by members of the public are seen following the fatal knife attack on three young girls in July in Southport.

Reuters

Public inquiry begins into Southport girls' murders

A PUBLIC inquiry begins on Tuesday into the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport last year.

The inquiry will examine whether the attack could have been prevented and how future incidents might be avoided.

Keep ReadingShow less
 7/7 bombings

The King said the public should draw on the 'extraordinary courage and compassion' shown in response to the attacks. (Photo credit: X/@RoyalFamily)

Starmer and King Charles pay tribute on 20th anniversary of 7/7 bombings

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer and King Charles on Monday paid tribute to the unity shown in the aftermath of the 7 July bombings in London, as the country marked 20 years since the attacks.

On 7 July 2005, four Islamist extremists carried out suicide bombings at Aldgate Station, Edgware Road, King's Cross and Tavistock Square. The attacks killed 52 people and injured hundreds more.

Keep ReadingShow less
India vs England

The win was India’s first Test victory in nine matches at Edgbaston, where they had previously suffered seven defeats and a draw.

Getty Images

India level series with big win over England as Akash Deep takes 10 wickets

INDIA defeated England by 336 runs in the second Test at Edgbaston on Sunday, levelling the five-match series 1-1. Akash Deep, playing in place of rested pacer Jasprit Bumrah, took 10 wickets in the match — his first 10-wicket haul in Test cricket.

England were bowled out for 271 while chasing a target of 608. Deep took 6-99 in the second innings, ending with match figures of 10-147 — the best of his eight-Test career so far.

Keep ReadingShow less
family-centre-iStock

Currently, one in four families with children under five do not have access to local children’s centres or Family Hubs. (Representational image: iStock)

£500 million plan to expand family services across England

THE UK government has announced the nationwide rollout of Best Start Family Hubs across every local authority, aiming to support 500,000 more children by 2028.

The hubs are intended to offer easier access to family services and reduce pressure on parents.

Keep ReadingShow less
Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case
Bhim Kohli

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case

THE seven-year prison sentence handed to a 15-year-old boy convicted of the manslaughter of 80-year-old Bhim Sen Kohli is to be reviewed under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The Attorney General’s Office confirmed on Friday (5) that the teenager’s sentence will now be considered by the Court of Appeal.

Keep ReadingShow less