The Race Equality Foundation has submitted evidence to the NHS 10-Year Workforce Plan consultation, calling for race equality to be placed at the centre of workforce planning and culture change, to ensure the NHS can deliver sustainable, high-quality care for all.
Drawing on extensive evidence from the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and lived experience, the Foundation’s submission focuses on two key priorities:
Workforce Modelling and Planning:
Future NHS workforce growth will depend on younger, more diverse communities. Workforce planning must therefore recognise diversity as a structural feature of the labour market, not a variable. Current evidence shows that unequal recruitment, progression and retention rates undermine workforce stability. Incorporating equity into modelling would improve the accuracy of workforce forecasts and demonstrate how fair employment practices strengthen retention, productivity and patient outcomes.
Culture and Values:
Evidence continues to show that racial inequalities have a measurable impact on staff wellbeing and patient care. Almost one in three staff from Black, Asian and minoritised backgrounds report bullying or harassment, and fewer than half feel they have equal access to career opportunities. The Foundation calls for a shift from compliance to belonging, where inclusion, accountability and psychological safety are integral to how the NHS defines and measures success.
