The realities of racism

This chapter analyses the realities of racism faced by nurses, midwives, and healthcare workers in the National Health Service (NHS). Drawing on 47 interviews and written narratives, the research adopts a Critical Race Theory (CRT) framework, recognising racism as systemic, a socially constructed entity, not a biological reality. By recognising racism as pervasive and not just present through overt acts of race hatred but through more subtle and hidden operations of power we highlight the pervasive nature of racism in healthcare This chapter is organised into two sections. The first section explores the roots of racism. It considers the impact of colonialism on the racial stereotypes and cultures of whiteness, as well as the institutionalisation of racism through the immigration laws. We highlight the impact of racial capitalism in the NHS. The second section explores three pervasive ways in which racism is practiced: exclusion and neglect; over-scrutiny and victimisation; and exploitation through unequal work allocation. Together, these policies and practices enable the exploitation and victimisation of Black and Brown workers with the administrative violence of the immigration laws creating extreme vulnerability for overseas staff, leading to devastating consequences in the pandemic.