St George’s flags are intimidating NHS employees from ethnic backgrounds, say well being chiefs
Leaders of some trusts claim their large minority of black and Asian staff are scared to work in areas they visit to treat folk in homes where flags have been put up
St George’s flags which have appeared on lampposts across the country are intimidating NHS staff from ethnic backgrounds who work in communities, according to health chiefs.
Leaders of some trusts claim their large minority of black and Asian staff are scared to work in areas they visit to treat folk in homes where flags have been put up.
They claim the flags, which supporters of the trend claim shows patriotism, are creating “no go zones” for workers and they have faced aggression in places where they are displayed.
One trust leader, who wished to stay anonymous, said: “Springing up of flags everywhere has created another form of intimidation and concern for many, many of our staff.”
They also told how when a member of staff, who is white and has mixed race children, asked people putting up flags to move so she could park her car, she was filmed and followed, before receiving abuse for several days because she “disturbed them”.
Another trust leader said working in areas where there are flags makes work more challenging for staff who already bravely work alone in homes to provide care for folk, such as convicted sex offenders.
He said: “You add that on top of real autonomous working, that real bravery of working in people’s homes, with an environment … (where) it feels like it’s an area that’s designed to exclude them.
“Staff can feel intimidated and if I’m honest, in many cases, I think that’s what it was designed to feel like.
“Our staff continue to work in that environment, and I think they deserve our real praise and thanks as a nation, frankly, for doing that within those really difficult circumstances.”
Daniel Elkes, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents trusts, said the NHS has relied on overseas recruitment for a long time to ensure we have the right workforce”, adding: “We have to change this narrative.”
Reports of staff facing abuse comes as a poll of senior NHS managers found 45% were extremely concerned about discrimination towards staff from patients and the public.
Local councils have spent more than £60,000 taking down flags across Britain which started appearing this summer, a Freedom of Information request found.
