Responding to the General Medical Council's annual The state of medical education and practice in the UK report, which found positive pandemic workplace experiences were not always shared by Black, Asian and minority ethnic doctors, NHS Providers director of policy and strategy Miriam Deakin said:

"It is troubling to see that where there have been positive impacts on workplaces in the face of the pandemic, such as teamwork, knowledge, and information sharing, these are not shared to the same degree by Black, Asian and minority ethnic doctors.

"This report clearly shows that within the NHS, there is still much work to do to improve equality and diversity in the workplace, and we must continue to invest in support for this across the health and care system.

"Trusts are already working hard to ensure staff are treated fairly and with the respect they deserve, for example by introducing initiatives to improve culture and staff engagement. We are pleased to see that the majority of trainees, and nearly two-fifths of doctors overall have felt a positive impact from increased visibility of senior leaders during the pandemic. But, as this report shows, there is clearly more to be done.

"Consistent, high-quality leadership is a crucial element for improvement in these areas. It is up to NHS leaders - collectively and individually - to commit to shifting the culture of organisations. This includes creating a more inclusive leadership which reflects the diversity of local populations and the NHS workforce."