A GP practice has condemned ‘discriminatory behaviour’ from some of its patients, who requested not to be seen by staff ‘based on the colour of their skin’.
Skene Medical Group, in Westhill, near Aberdeen in Scotland, said it came to the attention of the practice staff that some patients were requesting not to see their doctors based on their ethnicity.
The practice defended its staff saying they are ‘highly trained’ and ‘work hard’ to look after patients, and added that while patients can choose to build a rapport with a specific doctor for continuity of care, the surgery will not accept ‘discriminatory requests’.
In a statement, the practice said: ‘It has come to our attention that some patients are requesting not to see some of our doctors based on their ethnicity or colour of their skin.
‘This is completely unacceptable, and we would like to be clear that all our medical staff are highly trained and work hard to look after each patient they see.
‘Whilst patients can choose to see a specific doctor they have built up a rapport with, we will not accept any requests or behaviour that could be regarded as discriminatory.
‘There have also been lots of new faces in the medical team and at a time of great pressure on GP services, and recruitment in particular, we are delighted to be in a position where most of our gaps have been filled and we are able to provide a comprehensive service.’
Last month, a UK-wide survey of around 2,000 doctors revealed that more than half of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) experience everyday instances of racism at work.
The research conducted by the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) found that 58% of IMGs experienced ‘thinly veiled’ incidents of racism and ‘microaggressions’ since they began practising medicine in the UK.
One IMG doctor who responded to the survey said: ‘I accidentally heard two patients comparing white and IMG doctors. Basically, talking negative things about foreign doctors. Their words broke my heart.’
Earlier this year, MDDUS had revealed that over one in five (22%) of young GPs have experienced racism in the workplace.
The number of doctors joining the GP register has increased by 12% over the last five years, largely due to the higher number of IMG doctors becoming GPs. In 2021, 828 IMG doctors joined the GP register according to the GMC.
However, last year, the BMA warned that racism faced by ethnic minority doctors is pushing them to leave the profession in what could become a mass exodus.
nothing new. will go unchallenged across the NHS. lots of words and EDI training. Zero action
So much for progressive Scotland. A myth propagated by the governing party!
Surely it’s the responsibility of Practices to punish this disgraceful (but widespread) behaviour.
We preach Zero Tolerance, but then allow this blatant “every day” racism to happen without consequence.
Any patient refusing to see a non-white doctor solely based on skin colour should receive a final written warning that they will be deregistered if there is a repeat performance.
Even PALS would struggle to defend aggrieved racists if they complain, so stand firm and stand up for your colleagues by punishing each and every offender, no excuses.
This is very worrying.
In order to put it right, though, I think we need to know if this is a matter of racism, or if either skin colour or being an IMG is the only proxy available to these patients for some other characteristic of the doctor-patient interaction which is the real problem.
If we fail to identify the underlying problem, we will in fact contribute to propagation of more racism, based on the proxy of skin colour.
An IMG doctor may well have better medical knowledge in some areas than a locally-raised doctor, but there are some aspects of the NHS that they may not know about, may not understand, and may not be familiar with, and also the local culture – and this last applies to british-born, british-trained doctors from other regions of the uK as well.
I saw one (white) parent, very concerned about the behaviour of a (white) consultant in A&E, because of a misunderstanding based on the differences in location of ‘tail’ on young boys between North and South Humberside! It could be attributed to racism, seeing as everyone knows Yorkshire and Lincolshire are different races.
An induction programme to NHS that gives IMG doctors an idea of the culture of London, would be useless in Llanfairfechan.
Even a test of London English skills may be a hindrance if you go to work in Glasgow or Zummerzet.
We need to integrate IMG doctors better, so they become ‘locals’.
Those who don’t want to see ethenic doctors will learn lesson soon when they go to hospital and see significant number of senior doctors , nurses , junior doctors are from ethnic group.. when they are in pain they will see any one who can help. No choice should ever be given based on ethnicity of doctors or nurses.
All patients must realise that discriminatory behaviour towards any practice staff will result in removal from the practice list. No warnings. No second chances, No appeals to HB or ICB, No recourse to PALS or Ombudsman. Sadly when a practice does remove a patient, support from these organisations is seldom forthcoming.
David Banner and Creag Dhubh- thank you for your comments.
David Church- As an IMG, I can confidently tell you that it is usually not about a lack of knowledge on the clinicians part nor whether they are aware or have been integrated into the local culture.
As an IMG GP myself in the GP register since 2010, I only faced this once when in training around 2009. In the busy environment of primary care, it is difficult to confirm for certain. I also believe some part of it is related to unfamiliar accents, which makes it even harder to define those who are blatantly racist.
Stop seeing Scottish patients based on their ethnicity.
Very disgraceful in this day and age. We have people like these in the GMC. The results show.
The righteous in full voice.
What about female patients insisting on only been seen by female physicians?
“Freedom and its Betrayal” – Isaiah Berlin
Obviously refusing to see a Dr based on their ethicity or country of origin is completely unacceptable.
However, could the patients be struggling with different accents? Those with hearing impairments are particularly affected and may be too embarrassed to say that they can’t understand what has been said.
Patients need to do as they are told. We only see ill people we like and who share our finely tuned moral principles. A small group of highly trained professionals who’s sole purpose is to care for the sick at the tax payers expense feels it is their right to preach to the morally inferior and remove them from their lists if they don’t like their offensive beliefs. Isn’t this just a tiny bit self righteous and patronising? Me thinks a little more realism and humility might be warranted here. There are indeed a lot of arseholes in the world but you cant deny people medical care just because you don’t approve of their ignorance. And maybe a small part of this might arise from our own ignorance too. We can assume we know why people behave as they do but we can never be certain. There are many reasons people behave in ways we disapprove we cant alway be certain why. Sometimes you have to deal with crap, try and change what you can but not expect the world to forever dance to your own person favourite tune
When we attempted to remove from our list a patient who used racially offensive language about a (UK born UK medical graduate) colleague with South Asian heritage, the local NHSE were completely unsupportive. The MPS were equally unhelpful. The P word has nothing to do with accent or language skills. Apologies if that sounds righteous.
This Practice needs a good injection of ”commonsense”———devoid of endless opinions
https://www.themdu.com/guidance-and-advice/guides/dealing-with-racism-from-patients
https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/racist-and-religious-hate-crime-prosecution-guidance
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-referral-to-prevent
these are some useful websites to look at. I am sorry that you have had the experience that you have had. I would consider also for the good of the patient to consider referring them to prevent if they display racist attitudes as they are at risk of radicalisation. every organisation including general practice has a prevent lead and it may be necessary to discuss the case with them.
Keith Laycock-nice reference
Are you a fox or a hedgehog?
I was single handed and patient rang surgery to see female doctor only. Staff said. You knew it is single male doctor and if you wish to see female then you need register elsewhere. She did not move from practice and happily
saw me for decades.
My external appearance is as conventional/traditional as they come, white, male, suited, 50s. Somehow this gives the occasional patient the freedom to make racist comments about my IMG colleagues, along the lines of “at last a proper doctor”. What’s interesting is that they think it’s OK to share that with me because I’m not “one of them”. Racism is indeed alive and well in the UK.
What Dr No says. Some patients say racist things and assume we’ll agree. I’d say the suggestion that patients are worried about hearing someone with an accent hasn’t really got legs in this case; I’ve had patients say to me things along the lines of ‘she’s so nice, and she’s a good doctor, I know, but I can’t always hear what she says’- but when this is the case, they are clearly mortified and worried about potentially offending. I’ve worked as a GP in both south-east England and (for a short while, latterly) in Scotland; the sort of nasty remark described in the article is, sadly, pretty common in Essex where I spent most of my career. However, it’s also an area where GP colleagues, in my experience, mostly don’t stand for it. The Scottish practice clearly hasn’t been accustomed to it, and seems to be rather dithering around wondering what to do/say. Easy. Make it plain that you’re not colluding and won’t accept it.
I think the practice could be proactive in introducing their new doctors with a photo and biography in the waiting room. I have only rarely heard true racism . occasionally..and shot it down where I have . But you will not change a racist
Most people when asked are using colour as a proxy and it is sadly misread as racist rather than descriptive. There are problems with culture, but also with accent …and that goes for Scottish people too . I have a hearing deficit and can easily misunderstand things said . Africans / dark skinned and people with beards are difficult to lipread . That’s it ..
The problem is that these patients are dangerous to IMG Drs as they are more likely to lodge complaints and I have often wondered if the GMC receives more complaints because of this. Recorded phone calls are great evidentially. Unless you challenge peoples poor behaviour it is likely to continue. I hate the racist remarks shared with me as if I am in cahoots. I am not I am in cahoots with my partners to provide medical care to all whether they deserve it or not.