‘Migration has sustained the NHS’ – health chief condemns violence

Amanda Pritchard condemned widespread violence across England seen in the past six days.

NHS boss Amanda Pritchard said that the riots have left many NHS staff feeling ‘afraid and unwelcome’ (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Archive)

NHS leaders have condemned the “deplorable thuggery” seen in towns and cities across England in the aftermath of the Southport stabbings.

Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, said the riots have left many NHS workers feeling “afraid and unwelcome”.

It comes as part of a message to staff one week on from the knife attack which left three girls dead.

For many NHS workers, seeing this flare-up of racism will leave them feeling afraid and unwelcome

Amanda Pritchard

Ms Pritchard paid tribute to the NHS staff who helped respond to the incident, and said that colleagues involved will “get any support that they need”.

“The suffering of the people of Southport, and others touched by the violence there, is unfathomable,” she said in a message to staff.

“It will inevitably take a toll on those NHS staff involved in the response; I know from my time at Guy’s and St Thomas’ how hard incidents like this can be for those treating victims and supporting families, but I can only imagine how much more affecting it has been for those treating children.

“We will make sure colleagues get any support they need – as we will for the people of Southport.”

On the riots that followed the incident, Ms Pritchard added: “The deplorable violence, intimidation and thuggery we have seen – and particularly the arson attack on the hotel in Rotherham housing asylum seekers – can and should be lent no justification.

“It is fundamentally wrong, fundamentally un-British, and a source of deep shame.”

Ms Pritchard praised the professionalism of NHS staff and other emergency services who are “dealing with the consequences” of the riots, adding: “It is they – not those rioting, and not those inciting and justifying violence from afar – who best represent our country, and British values – the values that led to the creation of the NHS and have sustained it since.

“There are other things that have sustained the NHS, too. One of them is stoicism, that great British trait of carrying on through adversity. Another, importantly, is migration – people coming from across the globe to become vital colleagues, with almost 200 nationalities represented in the NHS workforce today.

“So carrying on, and doing what needs to be done for the patients who need us, is what the NHS will do. It’s what our colleagues in the North West did after the attack in Southport. It’s what others have done and are doing now due to the riots – treating victims and perpetrators alike.

“But we shouldn’t let dedication to duty disguise the fact that for many NHS workers, seeing this flare-up of racism will leave them feeling afraid and unwelcome.

“To those colleagues, my message is simple: you are welcome, you are a valued member of our community, and that community should look after you.”

To NHS leaders she added: “Show in your actions that when we say we have zero tolerance of racism towards our patients or colleagues, in whatever form it takes, we really mean it – even when it is difficult or uncomfortable.”