Standing in Solidarity Against Racism

9 August 2024

Joint statement from NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council.

To residents across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin,

As Leaders, Chief Executive Officers and Chairs of the Integrated Care System (ICS) in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin we express our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the friends, families and communities in Southport on the tragic killing of Bebe, Elsie and Alice last week.

Collectively, we are horrified by the devastating loss of three young lives, as well as those children and adults who suffered critical injuries from the attack.

In the aftermath of these truly shocking events, we are deeply appalled by the violence and disorder driven by racism and hate in different parts of the country. We are alarmed to hear reports of unacceptable abuse and violence towards people of different ethnicities, including health and care professionals. There is no justification for this, and it is a source of deep shame for the country.

Seeing this flare-up of racism will no doubt leave many people feeling afraid and unwelcome and will of course cause a lot of concern and anxiety.

Let us be very clear. We will not tolerate any harassment or abuse of our staff. To our colleagues, our message is simple: you are welcome, and you are valued members of our organisations and communities. We are united and resolute in our message of solidarity and compassion for anyone affected by this appalling behaviour.

We celebrate and benefit from a hugely diverse workforce in our NHS organisations and our local authorities – indeed it is one of our strengths. It is everyone's right to feel welcome and valued. We have a responsibility, through our collective actions, to show this more clearly now than ever before.

As an Integrated Care System, our position is of zero-tolerance towards racism and discrimination, and we are committed to ensuring that everybody across all our health and care settings feels safe, supported, and welcome, whether they are patients, service users or members of the public.

For our staff, please report any instances of abuse or violence through the appropriate channels or authorities immediately. You can report hate crime at www.report-it.org.uk.

For those affected, please reach out for support if you need it through either your line manager, or the staff networks available within your organisation. We encourage you to prioritise your safety and wellbeing above all else.

To everyone across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, please check in on any family members, friends or neighbours who may feel vulnerable, and together let’s show unity and support for each other at this difficult time. Our strength of community and togetherness is more important now than ever and we commit to showing our leadership in this area.

Useful links:

Please see below for safety advice provided by colleagues at West Mercia Police:

If you are concerned, we would encourage you to speak to an officer either on patrol or you can contact your local Safer Neighbourhood Team. Details of your local Safer Neighbourhood Team can be found by signing up to Neighbourhood Matters Home Page - Neighbourhood Matters.
For advice for organisations and businesses, please visit Protect UK for any protective security advice and guidance www.protectuk.police.uk.
Person safety advice can be found at Crime prevention advice | West Mercia Police.

On behalf of NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin