Building anti‑racist leadership in the NHS: a North West perspective
By the NHS North West Race Equity Assembly
Across the NHS, conversations about race, equity and leadership are not optional; they are urgent.
For many colleagues from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic backgrounds, the lived reality of working in the NHS continues to be shaped by unequal experiences, barriers to progression, and environments where speaking up can still feel risky.
Anti-racist leadership is therefore not a ‘nice to have’, but a core leadership responsibility if the NHS is serious about being a fair employer and delivering equitable care.
Recent data from the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) data continues to shine a light on persistent inequalities, particularly in the North West of the UK.
Year after year, the WRES highlights disproportionate experiences of bullying and harassment, disciplinary action, and limited progression for ethnic minority staff compared to their White colleagues.
NHS North West Race Equity Assembly (Formerly NHS NW Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Assembly)
NHS North West Race Equity Assembly exists to support organisations and leaders to move decisively from awareness to action, strengthening race equity across the region.
A central contribution of this work is the North West Anti-Racist Framework, a practical approach that enables NHS organisations to embed anti-racism across leadership, governance and everyday practice.
From ‘non-racist’ to ‘anti-racist‘
Understanding the difference between non-racist and anti-racist leadership is essential. Anti-racism requires deliberate and sustained action to challenge systems and behaviours that create inequity.
In the context of the NHS, anti-racist leadership is critical to tackling health inequalities, ensuring equity is embedded in service design, workforce strategy, and quality improvement.
Setting a strong example for anti-racist work, the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust has demonstrated how embedding anti-racism into strategy and accountability can drive meaningful change.
Continuing the conversation
In a recent episode of the Leadership Live podcast, Lorna Krisson, senior system lead at the NHS North West Leadership Academy, spoke to Ayo Barley, Director of the NHS North West Race Equity Assembly. Together, they discuss Ayo’s leadership journey and the urgent work of building anti-racist cultures across the NHS.
They also explore the lived realities of racism in healthcare, the lack of diversity in NHS leadership, and what it takes to create inclusive environments where all staff can thrive.
Change starts with awareness and conversation. To learn more about the work led by the NHS North West Race Equity Assembly, tune in for the podcast episode below.
