Full Breakdown
NHS Tees Trusts Adopt Zero-Tolerance Policy on Persistent Racism and Aggression
9/7/2026, 2:39:38 PM
Core Action: New Guidance on Treating Patients Who Are Persistently Racist
University Hospitals Tees NHS group announced that staff are not expected to continue treating a patient who displays persistent racist behaviour, except in emergency life-or-limb situations. The guidance, presented at a recent board meeting, frames such incidents as “never events” – serious, preventable incidents – and signals a shift toward protecting clinicians from ongoing abuse.
Background & Context
Violence, aggression and racist abuse have been reported repeatedly in the emergency departments of the South Tees and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trusts. In September of the previous year, board members noted that progress on reducing victimisation of Black, Asian and ethnic-minority (BAME) staff had stalled. The trusts have since intensified efforts, including collaboration with Cleveland Police and the introduction of body-worn cameras in the James Cook University Hospital A&E department.
Key Figures & Groups
- Stacey Hunter – Chief Executive, University Hospitals Tees NHS group.
- Rachael Metcalf – Chief People Officer, University Hospitals Tees NHS group.
- Cleveland Police – Partner law-enforcement agency.
- James Cook University Hospital – Site of the newly deployed body-worn cameras.
Data & Statistics
- Staff from global-majority backgrounds constitute 15 % to 16.5 % of the combined workforce.
- The race-equality report notes a rise in bullying, harassment and abuse directed at these staff members.
- Early feedback indicates increased confidence when managing challenging situations after the camera rollout.
Official Statements & Responses
Stacey Hunter described the policy as a response to “constant” attacks on staff, emphasizing that clinicians will not be required to endure persistent racism when it is not an immediate medical emergency. She noted that Cleveland Police have helped staff feel safer, even when incidents occur outside the hospital.
Rachael Metcalf said engagement with staff networks has improved, allowing more employees to report negative experiences. She acknowledged the gap in lived experience between global-minority staff and white colleagues remains, but asserted that ongoing efforts are narrowing that disparity.
Verbatim Quotes
“Over the last couple of years we have really tried to increase engagement with our staff and our networks. And staff are coming forward and they are telling us.” — Rachael Metcalf
Impact on Staff and Operations
Clinicians report feeling more reassured and confident when confronting difficult interactions, attributing the improvement to both the new policy and the presence of body-worn cameras. The trusts reaffirm their commitment to collaborating with staff, partner organisations and local communities to reduce aggression, support wellbeing, and maintain a safe workplace.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The sources do not provide precise counts of racist or violent incidents, relying instead on qualitative descriptions such as “rising numbers” and “early positive feedback.” Consequently, the exact scale of the problem and the measurable effect of the new policy remain unclear.
What’s Next
University Hospitals Tees plans to expand body-worn camera usage across its emergency departments and sustain staff-engagement initiatives aimed at narrowing the experience gap for global-minority employees. Updates will follow as the trusts monitor the policy’s impact on staff safety and patient care.
