NHS still has a ‘long way to go’ to improve working conditions for ethnic minority and disabled staff
25 June 2025
Saffron Cordery responds to the publication of the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) reports
Leadership
Race equality
Workforce
Responding to the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) reports published today, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said:
"These reports confirm that the NHS still has a long way to go to improve working conditions for ethnic minority and disabled staff.
“Despite slow but steady progress in some areas, trusts know there is much more to do to across the board to support career progression and to tackle the unacceptable levels of harassment, bullying and abuse felt by ethnic minority and disabled staff.
"Ethnic diversity amongst senior NHS managers has increased, but once again, has not kept pace with the overall diversity of the NHS workforce. With 80% of trusts reporting that white applicants were significantly more likely than ethnic minority candidates to be appointed from shortlisting, it’s clear the NHS must do better.
“Sustained focus is now needed on providing equal opportunities for career progression and promotion for staff from ethnic minority backgrounds.
"It is positive that the WDES report found disabled people are fairly represented on NHS boards, are just as likely to be appointed to NHS jobs as non-disabled candidates and that three quarters of disabled staff felt trusts are making reasonable adjustments to enable them to carry out their work.
“But it is deeply concerning that disabled staff are twice as likely to be performance managed at work and are more likely to experience bullying, harassment or abuse from managers and colleagues. Staff from an ethnic minority are also most likely to face the same issues. This is unacceptable.
“With changes underway at NHS England and the DHSC, it is vital that this data continues to be collected and published so that trusts can continue to make much needed and long overdue progress to support their ethnic minority and disabled staff.”