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The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has taken a significant step towards advancing its anti-racism agenda by forming a new working group of "Anti-Racism Champions." Comprising existing GPhC Council and Executive members, the group is committed to providing visible and vocal leadership, internally and externally, to combat racism and promote inclusivity across the pharmacy sector. The formation of this working group follows the GPhC's recent Governing Council discussion in July, which focused on the next steps in its 'Racism in Pharmacy' work. This initiative is an important part of the GPhC's wider Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) strategy, aimed at proactively addressing discrimination and reducing health inequalities through the Council's regulatory influence. The Anti-Racism Champions group includes people with lived experience of racism and allies who will help shape future action.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPHC), Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), Company Chemists Association (CCA), Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK), National Pharmacy Association (NPA), Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA), and Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) have released a joint statement in response to the far-right riots across the UK. They emphasised their united stance, declaring zero tolerance for racism towards colleagues or the public in any form. The joint statement reads: "We are shocked and saddened by the violent public disorder events in recent days. "We acknowledge how all sectors of the pharmacy profession may be impacted and recognise the challenges that this level of overt aggression can have on people's ability or willingness to live their daily lives. "The pharmacy workforce deserves peace and safety, not fear and harm. We stand united in having a zero tolerance of racism towards our colleagues or the public in whatever form it takes." Meanwhile, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has expressed concerns that protests and violent disorder in various towns and cities across England may impact the ability of community pharmacies to operate.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has published new reports on racism and other inequalities in pharmacy, following a series of virtual equality roundtables. This council organised its second equality roundtable on 18 September 2023, focussing on the topic of 'Language Barriers and Health Inequalities', and a follow-up roundtable on 'Racism in Pharmacy: Accountability Counts' on 10 October 2023. A wide range of pharmacy-related organisations, patient groups, equality groups, providers of translation services and software, individual pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and wider teams from different sectors and settings attended the events. GPhC chair, Gisela Abbam thanked speakers and attendees for listening and contributing to the important discussions around racism and language barriers, which she said are "not purely a pharmacy problem, nor a health problem", but a "much broader" system problem. "It is important we acknowledge that, and do what we can to tackle racism and barriers wherever we find them," she added.

As far-right violence escalates across the UK, Professor Mahendra Patel, Honorary Doctor of Health at the University of Bradford, has urged pharmacy teams to uphold solidarity and professionalism, showing stability and fairness to provide the best care during these difficult times of public unrest. Speaking to Pharmacy Business, Patel stressed the importance of valuing and respecting the diversity within the pharmacy profession while presenting a united stance against racism and discrimination. Violence erupted across the UK after rumours spread online that the suspect in the dance class stabbing attack in Southport last week was a Muslim and an immigrant. This misinformation reportedly incited anger among far-right supporters, leading to clashes with anti-racism protesters over the weekend. Commenting on the ongoing far-right riots across the UK, he stated: "What we are seeing is not normal behaviour by any means and it is clearly very frightening and worrying for everyone with potentially huge impact on daily lives." At present, this situation is particularly impacting individuals of the Muslim faith and Black ethnic minorities.

Pharmacists from BAME backgrounds still face higher levels of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and career obstacles compared to their white counterparts, the Pharmacy Workforce Race Equality Standard (PWRES) report has revealed. Published by NHSE England, this report underscores the persistent presence of inequality, emphasising the crucial need for all stakeholders in the pharmacy sector to prioritise addressing these issues. The PWRES report indicates that pharmacy team members of Black ethnic backgrounds are less likely to perceive equal opportunities for career advancement or promotion within their trust. Additionally, female pharmacy team members from BAME backgrounds report higher incidents of personal discrimination in the workplace. The report also highlights an overrepresentation of pharmacy technicians from BAME backgrounds in lower-paid roles. "It is shocking and unacceptable to see that across all indicators the BME staff experience is worse than their white counterparts," said Tase Oputu, Chair of RPS in England.

Paul Rees MBE, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), has announced his resignation to take on a new role as interim chief executive and registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in the new year. He will join the NMC on a one-year contract starting January 20, where he will oversee the development of a multi-year programme aimed at transforming the NMC's culture and performance. This follows an independent culture review conducted by Nazir Afzal OBE, which highlighted issues of racism, discrimination, and bullying within the organisation. The NPA is engaging a leading recruitment agency to find its next chief executive, with plans to make an appointment early in the New Year. NPA chair Nick Kaye praised Paul's contributions over the last year, stating: "I'm enormously grateful to Paul and the brilliant NPA team who are doing so much to raise the profile of community pharmacy, campaign for a better deal and improve our outstanding support to members. "Our board and senior team are pressing ahead with our very successful campaigning and our work to transform the support and services we give to pharmacies across the country.

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has reported growing concerns among its members regarding their safety at work as the far-right, anti-immigration riots escalate across the UK. "We have received calls from members who are concerned about their safety at work and feel vulnerable in communities where the violence and disorder are taking place," the organisation told Pharmacy Business. The PDA also reported that some hospital outpatient departments and GP surgeries were forced to close their doors to allow staff to get home safely, which may impact services to patients. In light of these challenges, the PDA is calling on employers to ensure that they are adequately communicating with pharmacists in locations at risk of conflict and to prioritise the health and safety of staff and patients. "We are aware that pharmacists and their teams working in areas where this criminal activity is taking place are feeling vulnerable but that they also want to ensure that their communities are safe and have access to the vital services pharmacies provide.

The Professional Pharmacists Association (PDA) has demanded efforts to secure greater support and recognition for community pharmacists from governmental bodies. In its written evidence provided to the Health and Social Care select committee's pharmacy inquiry, the PDA raised concerns about the well-being of pharmacists, specifically for those who belong to minority ethnic groups and race and are subjected to bullying, harassment, and ill-treatment. The association highlighted issues in the workplace that impact pharmacists' health and well-being, including chronic understaffing, sub-standard working environments, an absence of protected training time, and experiences of racism, violence, and abuse. Parallel to the PDA's advocacy, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is intensifying calls for prioritising workforce wellbeing within the pharmacy domain. Stressing the pivotal role of workforce retention in addressing current challenges, RPS emphasises the need for robust support mechanisms and equitable access to mental health services.

A new survey has highlighted concerning trends among ethnic minority communications professionals in the NHS, with many reporting negative workplace experiences and considering leaving their roles. Over a quarter (26 per cent) of ethnic minority NHS communications professionals surveyed stated that do not envisage remaining in their roles three years from now. Key reasons they cited include poor relationships with management (37per cent), dissatisfaction with the institution (34 per cent), and structural racism (32 per cent). Over 300 ethnic minority communication and engagement specialists from the NHS, charity, and commercial sectors participated in the study, conducted by the Taskforce for Diversity in NHS Communications. The survey collected their views to examine their unique experiences and challenges. Despite their high levels of education and career ambitions-97per cent hold a degree or higher, and over 90 per cent aspire to promotion within three years - many professionals now feel disillusioned.

"Britain will always be your home," said Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in a video message to NHS and care staff in response to recent violence targeting healthcare workers from ethnic minority backgrounds. In the video posted on X, Streeting said: "I have been appalled by recent news reports of violence over the last week directed towards Filipino nurses in Sunderland, GPS closing early out of fear of riots and the torching of a Nigerian care worker's car. "These people are there for our country when we need them. They look after us at our most vulnerable and bust a gut to keep us well. Their attackers bring shame on our nation and our flag." Streeting underscored that the government will not tolerate NHS or social care staff being subjected to intimidation, harassment or racist abuse.

The King's Fund has published an in-depth analysis highlighting the priorities that the government's new 10-year health plan should address to combat health inequalities. This plan, currently being developed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England, will significantly shape the long-term future of the NHS. The independent think tank emphasises that a core focus of this new plan should be to enable the NHS to better address health inequalities and support people with the worst health outcomes. Sarah Woolnough, CEO of The King's Fund, explained: "Health inequalities are avoidable, unfair, and systematic differences in health between different groups of people, and they reflect broader societal issues such as those related to income, housing, gender, ethnicity or disability." "Supporting the health and care system to do more to tackle these differences has been a strategy priority for the Fund over the past five years." Drawing on its extensive work on health inequalities in the last five years, the charity has outlined seven key priorities that should shape the 10-year health plan: