Responding to the Nursing and Midwifery Council's (NMC) latest Ambitious for change report, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"We welcome this research from NMC, which contains clear recommendations to improve regulatory processes in collaboration with employees and their employers so that they are fair for all, no matter their protected characteristics.

"We also welcome this research's recognition of wider structural inequalities. There is no room for discrimination in the NHS and as the country's biggest employer of ethnic minority people, the NHS must do all it can to eliminate racism in its ranks and to champion equality, diversity and inclusion.

"Earlier this year, we welcomed a commitment within the Messenger review of NHS leadership to equality, diversity and inclusion at all levels, and our report Race 2.0 – Time for real change explored the scale of the challenge ahead. To drive real change, our race equality programme at NHS Providers will support trusts by increasing their confidence and capability to tackle discrimination."