(Image: Supplied)
BRADFORD Teaching Hospitals has pledged to tackle racism head-on by adopting the NHS Race and Health Observatory’s seven anti-racism principles.
Developed to improve patient safety, strengthen leadership, and protect staff, the principles aim to address structural, institutional, and interpersonal racism within the healthcare system.
The trust marked its commitment by welcoming Professor Habib Naqvi MBE, chief executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, to Bradford Royal Infirmary last week.
Professor Naqvi said: "We know equity and inclusion across our NHS require more than words; they demand intentional and systemic action, robust leadership, and clear accountability.
"That’s why we welcome Bradford Teaching Hospitals’ commitment to adopting and implementing the Observatory’s ‘7 Principles of Anti-Racism for NHS Staff’.
"By embedding these evidence-based principles into its organisational practice and culture, the trust is taking a vital step towards tackling racial inequalities at their root.
"Ensuring a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment for NHS staff is not only a moral duty, but a critical driver for staff engagement, patient safety, and higher quality of care for the entire community.
"We look forward to working with the trust on this critically important work."
During the visit, Professor Naqvi and Owen Chinembiri, assistant director of workforce at the observatory, met the trust’s executive team, toured maternity services, and visited the Bradford Institute for Health Research.
They also engaged with staff equality networks and community partners to hear their stories and their hopes for the future.
Professor Mel Pickup, chief executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals, said: "Being anti-racist in everything we do as a Trust needs to be underpinned by clear actions and accountability."
She added: "The NHS Race and Health Observatory’s seven principles of anti-racism create a very clear and measurable framework to help guide our work.
"While we should be rightly proud of some of the work we have done at the trust and locally in our health and care system, I know there is so much more we can and must do.
"It is our intention to work closely with the observatory to implement the principles so that we can benefit from their expertise and their knowledge of best practice from other places.
"We know that being anti-racist requires collective effort, energy, and resilience especially at a time when the wider geo-political environment creates a difficult operating environment for those working in this space.
"We are ready to meet that challenge head-on."