North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) has taken a firm stand against racism and discrimination, declaring there is “no place for hate crime at NCIC” during this year’s Hate Crime Awareness Week.
Chief Executive Trudie Davies spoke out following reports that some colleagues have faced an increasing amount of racial abuse, both within the workplace and in their local communities. She described the situation as “very sad and upsetting” and urged everyone to show respect to those working in healthcare.
“Very sadly, we are hearing that our colleagues are experiencing an increasing amount of racial discrimination both at work and while in the community,” said Ms Davies. “We are proud that over 13 per cent of our colleagues are from ethnic minority backgrounds and come from more than 72 countries. We celebrate and value diversity — we couldn’t run our services without them.”
She added that NCIC would not tolerate racism, violence, or aggression of any kind. “We are encouraging colleagues to report both verbal and physical aggression, and we will do everything we can to support them,” she said.
The Trust’s ongoing HUMAN campaign highlights the importance of kindness and respect across all NCIC sites. Posters featuring close-up portraits of local staff remind patients and visitors that healthcare workers are “human too” — with their own families, responsibilities, and vulnerabilities.
“As a Trust, it’s important we do as much as we can to protect our staff,” Ms Davies continued. “When our staff face aggression or even physical violence, it can have a serious impact on their shift, their wellbeing, and their ability to provide high-quality care. Sometimes it even leads to staff needing time off work, which can have longer-term consequences for their health.”
Her comments come amid a national rise in hate crime across England and Wales. Home Office figures released this month show hate crime offences have increased for the first time in three years — particularly those motivated by race and religion.
In the year ending March 2025, police recorded 115,990 hate crimes, a 2% rise from the previous year. While hate crimes against Jewish people outside London fell by 18%, that drop followed a 113% spike the previous year, much of it linked to events in the Middle East. The number of recorded offences targeting Muslims rose by 19%, with spikes following riots and violent incidents last summer.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the figures were “deeply concerning,” adding that “too many people are living in fear because of who they are, what they believe, or where they come from.” She said the government had increased police patrols around synagogues and mosques and would ensure perpetrators face the “full force of the law.”
Advocacy groups have warned that the official figures may not reflect the true scale of hate crime. Stop Hate UK and the Monitoring Group said many victims remain silent out of fear or distrust, leaving large numbers of offences unreported.
“Your colour has become your passport or your nationality,” said Suresh Grover, founder of the Monitoring Group. “If victims don’t feel safe reporting incidents or aren’t taken seriously, their experiences disappear from the statistics — but the suffering continues.”
At NCIC, the message is clear: discrimination, hostility, and abuse will not be tolerated. The Trust’s leadership is determined to create a safe and inclusive environment for staff and patients alike, particularly as NHS workers continue to face unprecedented pressures.
“Our colleagues dedicate their lives to helping others,” said Ms Davies. “They deserve to work in an environment where they are respected, valued, and safe. Hate has no place in our hospitals or our communities.”
