Anti-Racism Statement

During the last four years NHS Dumfries and Galloway has been reflecting on the experiences of ethnic minority staff within the NHS workforce. Research shows that ethnic minority staff working in the NHS across the UK experience significantly higher discrimination in comparison with white majority colleagues. We carried out our own research, through the Race in the Workplace project in 2021, which helped us to understand how racism affects us within NHS Dumfries and Galloway and to consider what improvements we need to make. We have since been taking steps to do better, but we know there is more to do.

We are working on providing a workplace where everyone is safe and protected from the harm caused by discrimination. We reject all forms of prejudice such as sexism, ableism, ageism, homophobia and transphobia. 

We also acknowledge that, given the slow progress on race equality in our society and workplaces, racism needs to be specifically addressed, alongside and separate to our overarching commitment to inclusion. Our Anti-Racist approach is part of our wider Anti-Oppression commitment to all those who experience inequality because of their identity. 

NHS Dumfries and Galloway has developed this statement as a public commitment to becoming an Anti-Racist organisation. An Anti-Racist approach acknowledges that organisations need to do as much as individuals to challenge systemic racism. Being actively Anti-Racist means we acknowledge the impacts of racism in our own organisation and are conscious of how systemic, structural racism can be perpetuated through organisational culture and structures of power and privilege. It means that we will never tolerate racism where we see it, and we will challenge and proactively change policies, behaviours and beliefs that perpetuate racist ideas and actions. 

We do not claim to have all the answers and we recognise we are all on a journey of understanding and learning. But we know that this journey is vital if we are to have a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels safe, valued and that they belong. We understand that meaningful progress is measured in action, not intention, and we commit to translating this statement into sustained change. 

Our Anti-Racism commitment is to: 

Create an equitable workplace culture

We are working to build upon our workplace culture, so that everyone feels valued and supported, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or background. This involves:
• Providing opportunities for those with lived experience to be involved in the development and review of policies and practices
• Improving our analysis of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) data and addressing highlighted issues, in particular around recruitment, retention and career progression
• Increasing communications which promote cultural understanding, clear standards and expectations around behaviour

Value lived experiences and celebrate diversity

We are working to centre the lived experiences and perspectives of ethnic minority communities in our decision-making processes and organisational goals and champion the positive contribution staff from ethnic minority communities make to Dumfries and Galloway. This involves:
• Maximising opportunities to incorporate feedback and insights from ethnic minority staff, patients and the wider community into decision making processes
• Addressing the challenges experienced by ethnic minority staff in speaking out around experiences of discrimination
• Actively promoting the positive contribution staff from ethnic minority communities make to Dumfries and Galloway.

Prioritise learning to increase cultural understanding

We are working to create safe spaces for open and honest anti-racist conversations, empowering all of our staff to move from fear and discomfort around racism into learning and growth. This involves:
• Providing opportunities for all staff to engage in collaborative reflection to increase cultural competence
• Offering training in Understanding Bias, Allyship and Bystander Awareness
• Providing opportunities for staff to access learning to increase understanding around bullying, banter and allyship

Prioritise actions to address racialised health inequalities

We are working on equity-focussed service delivery to ensure that all individuals have a fair opportunity to achieve their full health potential. This involves:
• Reducing variances in access, experiences, treatment and outcomes between individuals and population groups through evidence-informed, culturally appropriate interventions
• Establishing mechanisms for collaboration through connecting with wider community & third sector to improve cultural appropriateness and address barriers to access
• Improving race and ethnicity data collection and using data to monitor inequalities and inform improvements to patient care

We are in the process of reviewing our Anti-Racism Implementation Group which will lead this work and report regularly on progress. These are the first small steps to integrate anti-racism work in our internal processes. The group will continue to be chaired by a senior leader and will consist of staff from a range of areas across the organisation, working in collaboration with the Staff Equality Network and colleagues with lived experience.

This marks the beginning of a deeper, ongoing journey – one that requires courage, collaboration and collective accountability. NHS Dumfries and Galloway is committed to the publication of an Anti-Racism Plan by January 2026. The Plan will be developed based on local and national evidence and in partnership with people with lived experience. We are committed to meaningful, sustainable change and will share regular progress with the Ethnic Minority Staff Equality Network and colleagues across the organisation via Staff News.

We will not achieve change overnight, and may not get everything right. However, our commitment as individuals and as an organisation is to proactive change, by acting, learning and improving. Each of us can own our responsibility to be proactively anti-racist, both individually and collectively. We can recognise, accept, and celebrate our differences and each play a role in making NHS Dumfries and Galloway a more positive, equal and effective organisation.