The government has announced a major crackdown on antisemitism and racism within the NHS, following several recent incidents that raised serious concerns about discrimination in
healthcare settings.
A new review and mandatory training
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has ordered an urgent review into how the NHS and its regulators handle antisemitism and other forms of racism. The review will be led by Lord John Mann, the government’s Independent Adviser on Antisemitism.
At the same time, all 1.5 million NHS staff will be required to complete new, strengthened antisemitism and anti-racism training. This training will become mandatory and will be rolled out immediately across the health service.
“Discrimination has no place in the NHS”
Speaking about the announcement, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The discrimination staff and patients have faced because of their race or religion goes against everything our country stands for.
The NHS was built on the principle that everyone should be treated equally and with respect, and I am determined to restore this to the heart of the health service.
That’s why I have asked Lord Mann to root out this problem and ensure perpetrators are always held to account”.
The move comes as part of a broader government effort to stamp out hate and division in society, particularly following the recent terrorist attack on Heaton Park Synagogue.
Strengthening accountability and culture
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “The NHS should be there for all of us when we need it – regardless of income, race, or religion. Discrimination undermines everything our health service stands for, and undermines its ability to provide quality care.
I have been appalled by recent incidents of antisemitism by NHS doctors, and I will not tolerate it. There can be no place in our NHS for doctors or staff continuing to practise after even persistently using antisemitic or hateful language.
Patients put their lives in the hands of healthcare professionals. They treat us at our most vulnerable. They therefore have a special responsibility to provide total comfort and confidence.
I am grateful to Lord Mann for taking on this work. I expect his recommendations, and the action we are taking today, to help us enforce a zero tolerance policy to racism in healthcare”.
Lord John Mann said:
“The NHS and the health sector pride themselves on being welcoming, inclusive and professional in dealings with every one of us, as we are all patients at different times and in different ways throughout our entire life.
Everyone in the country should be confident in these underlying principles at all times.
This review will look at the issues that can undermine the confidence of individuals when seeking or receiving healthcare.
Ensuring that the systems and culture of regulation across the health service match, at all times, the universal principles and ethics that underpin our NHS will be the sole focus of this work”.
The review will look into:
- How regulators handle complaints about racism and antisemitism
- Transparency in investigations
- Reporting systems for staff and patients
- How zero-tolerance policies can be better enforced
Stronger training and clearer standards
The updated NHS training will:
- Include enhanced content on discrimination and antisemitism
- Feature new assessments to test understanding
- Be developed with equality and antisemitism experts
- Align with the core skills training framework
Staff will be required to refresh their training immediately when the new modules become available, rather than waiting for the usual three-year update cycle.
Additionally, the government has asked NHS England to formally adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and to ensure every Trust and NHS body does the same.
The government is also reviewing recommendations from the Independent Working Group on Islamophobia to tackle all forms of religious discrimination.
Respect and religious wxpression in the NHS
NHS England is currently reviewing its uniform and workwear guidance, last updated in 2020. The aim is to ensure both freedom of religious expression and a respectful environment for all patients and staff.
The new guidance, inspired by successful approaches at University College London Hospitals and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, will be published soon.
Reactions from the Jewish community
Andrew Gilbert, Vice President for Security, Resilience and Cohesion, Board of Deputies of British Jews, said:
“We welcome the new measures announced today to tackle antisemitism within the NHS, particularly the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, a much needed review on regulators led by Lord Mann and an expansion of effective antisemitism training.
For much of the last two years, Jewish staff and patients have felt let down by the NHS while antisemitism has been allowed to flourish and thrive with hospitals, medical schools and other health spaces becoming unwelcoming for Jews.
The government’s plans are a step towards addressing these urgent issues that will make the NHS a safer place for Jews to work and receive care, however, these changes should be seen as a spring board for further changes and not a ‘fix-all’ with issues remaining on the classification of Jews as an ethnicity, the lack of repercussions of medical staff accused of antisemitism and health inequalities in the Jewish community”.
Claudia Mendoza, CEO of the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC), said:
“Antisemitism in the NHS has been out of control. We have seen doctors describe hospitals as cesspits of “Jewish supremacy” and praise Hamas as “legends”, with the regulators and tribunals not taking substantive action. It is vital that Jewish patients are able to trust that their healthcare providers will treat them without prejudice. This continued lack of action has severely undermined trust.
The government’s announcements today including the introduction of mandatory antisemitism training and the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism encouraged across the health service, are a welcome first step but must be the first of many. Most importantly, we must see swift action as a result of Lord Mann’s urgent review into how healthcare regulators tackle antisemitism”.
The Jewish Medical Association (JMA) said:
“For the past two years the Jewish Medical Association has become increasingly concerned about blatant expressions of antisemitism - simply anti-Jewish racism - that have become widely tolerated across healthcare. British Jewish healthcare students, professionals and patients find this profoundly distressing and intimidating.
The JMA welcomes Lord Mann’s review of the role of regulators in eliminating this toxic culture for Jews.
We have long called for IHRA definition adoption, for effective mandatory training for staff in the NHS, regulators and other key players to combat antisemitism, and for implementation of uniform policy, all to help make healthcare a prejudice-free, politics-free environment”.
Daniel Carmel-Brown, CEO of Jewish Care, said:
“Jewish Care welcomes the government’s commitment to tackling antisemitism and racism across the NHS and wider society. These measures send a powerful message that hatred and discrimination have no place in healthcare or anywhere else.
Adopting the IHRA definition, enhancing training, and strengthening oversight are important steps towards ensuring that Jewish patients, staff, and communities feel safe, respected, and valued.
We look forward to working with government and partners to help build a health service and a society where everyone is treated with dignity and respect”.
Professor Habib Naqvi, Chief Executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said:
“Tackling antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism involves clear communication of a zero-tolerance stance, implementing systemic changes, and creating a supportive environment for all employees.
That’s why we fully support roll out of the comprehensive measures announced today by the government. Our diverse workforce is the backbone of the NHS. It must be cared for, celebrated and respected for the outstanding care that it provides.
At the same time, our patients, colleagues and communities need to be treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve. No one should be subjected to discrimination or abuse of any kind, within or outside of the workplace”.
Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices, said:
“Being anti-racist is not about making grand statements, it is about taking consistent action to end discrimination and inequity. What the Prime Minister has set out today is an important commitment to action in the NHS, using the levers of training and regulation to build a health and care workforce that is committed to ending racism.
This can help our sector not just challenge overt racist acts, like violence and intimidation, but also address the underlying systemic issues which means our Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities continue to experience some of the worst access, experiences and outcomes from healthcare”.
Next steps
Lord Mann will report directly to the Health Secretary with practical recommendations to strengthen protections against racism and antisemitism across the health sector.
The government emphasized that patient safety and trust in the NHS depend on ensuring the health service is completely free from discrimination.
