NHS trusts report 17% rise in racist abuse against staff by patients

NHS hospital and mental health trusts in England recorded 8,235 reports of staff being racially abused by patients in 2024, a 17% increase from the 7,002 incidents logged in 2023, according to data obtained by the BBC through Freedom of Information requests sent to trusts across the country.

The Details

The BBC submitted Freedom of Information requests to NHS hospital and mental health trusts in England and received data from 106 trusts. The figures showed a sharp year-on-year rise in racial abuse directed at healthcare workers by the patients they treat. The 2024 total of 8,235 incidents encompasses both physical assaults and non-physical abuse. The BBC noted that the true scale of the problem is likely higher than the recorded figures indicate, since not all trusts supplied data in response to the requests. The broadcaster also reported that several trusts lacked records of racism reports from before 2023, which limited the ability to track longer-term trends and establish a fuller baseline. Some trusts did not record racism reports at all prior to 2023. Tito Vicario, a nurse at Sunderland Royal Hospital, described to the BBC instances in which patients attempted to punch or slap staff during the course of treatment. In the interview, Vicario said patients would direct anger and anxiety toward workers, adding that staff members were not punching bags and remained people who deserved basic respect. The reporting gap may be substantial. Neomi Bennett, founder of Equality 4 Black Nurses, told the BBC that around 67% of affected workers in the group's research chose not to report racist incidents. Bennett cited a lack of trust that the system would protect those who came forward, suggesting that official figures capture only a fraction of the abuse experienced on wards and in clinics. The UK government has publicly acknowledged that violence against healthcare workers has become a critical issue. In an April 2025 announcement, officials cited the 2024 NHS Staff Survey, which found that one in seven NHS staff had experienced physical violence from patients, relatives or members of the public in the prior twelve months. The same survey found that a quarter of staff had experienced harassment, bullying or abuse during that period. In October 2025, the government said the Prime Minister had ordered an urgent review of antisemitism and all forms of racism in the NHS. The announcement included plans to roll out mandatory antiracism training across the health service.

Context

The reported surge in patient-directed racism sits within a wider pattern of race-equity challenges across the National Health Service. NHS England's 2024 Workforce Race Equality Standard report found that more Black and minority ethnic staff than white staff experienced discrimination, bullying, harassment or abuse from colleagues, indicating that the problem is not confined to patient behavior. The BBC also previously reported that North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said staff were facing increasing racial discrimination, including aggression and sometimes physical violence. The 2024 NHS Staff Survey data referenced by the government in its April announcement showed that a significant portion of the workforce faces hostility from both the public and colleagues. The combination of sharply rising reported incidents alongside evidence of substantial underreporting means the figures captured by trust administrative records likely represent only part of the total abuse experienced by frontline workers. The discrepancy between recorded reports and the estimated real prevalence underscores the size of the gap between what institutions log and what staff actually encounter during their shifts.

What's Next

The UK government has committed to an urgent review of antisemitism and racism across the NHS, ordered by the Prime Minister in October 2025. Mandatory antiracism training is planned for rollout across the health service. The government's April 2025 announcement also outlined new support measures intended to benefit one million NHS staff, framing the response to violence and abuse as a priority for the health service. However, advocates such as Equality 4 Black Nurses have highlighted that a large majority of affected workers currently do not report incidents. Their research points to a need for systemic changes that build trust in reporting mechanisms before training and policy measures can have their intended effect. Without that trust, even expanded data collection and new government initiatives may fail to capture the full scope of racist abuse against NHS staff.