NMC condemns 'disgraceful' alleged racist attack on NHS nurse

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has condemned racism and called for all nurses to be treated with respect following what it described as a ‘shocking and disgraceful’ alleged attack on an NHS nurse.

Apple Moorhouse, who has worked in the NHS for over a decade and is originally from the Philippines, was attacked when walking through Manor Heath Park, Halifax, with a child last month.

A video, which has been circulating online, seemingly shows a man and woman making racial comments towards a woman and a child in the park.

A man is seen throwing what appears to be water at the woman and asks her whether she arrived in the UK by crossing the English Channel in a boat.

According to wider media reports, Ms Moorhouse is now planning on leaving the NHS.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed it had made two arrests in relation to an incident in Manor Heath Park in Halifax on Thursday 28 August.

‘A man and a woman were arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault and have since been released on bail pending further enquiries,’ it said.

Confronting racism and discrimination

NMC chief executive and registrar, Paul Rees, described the alleged attack on Ms Moorhouse as ‘shocking and disgraceful’.

Around a third of the 853,000 nursing and midwifery professionals on the NMC’s register (277,716) are recorded as Black, Asian or minority ethnic.

‘Far too many of them already experience some forms of discrimination in the workplace, either from patients or colleagues, and now there is the risk they will increasingly experience discrimination outside the workplace as well,’ the NMC said in a statement.

Earlier in summer, the latest NHS Workforce Race Equality Standards (WRES) report, based on 2023 data, revealed that more than a quarter of female Black and minority ethnic nurses (BME) nursing and midwifery staff working in the NHS in England have experienced bullying, harassment or abuse from colleagues in a year period.

Mr Rees said: ‘Along with their colleagues, Black, Asian and minority ethnic nursing and midwifery professionals form the backbone of the NHS and other health services.

‘They help to deliver health and care services that all members of the public will need at some stage in their lives – with everyone benefiting from their knowledge, skills, experience and compassion.

‘And yet these professionals, who go to work every day to make our lives better, are often experiencing racism and other forms of discrimination that sadly persist in society.

‘The alleged attack on Apple Moorhouse was shocking and disgraceful.’

He added: ‘The NMC stands four square against racism and other forms of discrimination and urges everyone to ensure that – while tensions may rise over certain issues – we all treat others, including nursing and midwifery professionals with respect at all times, and show allyship to Black, Asian and minority ethnic people when they are facing racism.

‘Black, Asian and minority ethnic people – including nursing and midwifery professionals – make a huge contribution to our society, in general, and to our health services, in particular.

‘Across the health sector, we must confront racism and discrimination wherever it occurs, so that every nurse, midwife and nursing associate can feel safe, valued and respected as they continue to care for us all.’

In June, latest data from the NMC revealed that the register had reached a record high but showed that overseas nurse recruitment had fallen for the first time in six years.

The month before, the government had launched its plans to end the recruitment of care workers from overseas.

In April, the NMC signed an anti-racism charter as part of its ongoing commitment to becoming an ‘anti-racist organisation’.

In March, the NMC revealed it was looking to recruit three senior figures to help change the culture at the organisation, including an executive director of people and culture and two heads of EDI.

Also in March, the NMC revealed its three-year Culture Transformation Plan to build a ‘positive, empowering and inclusive culture’ for its staff and registrants.

Last summer also saw nurses targeted during racist riots, including some Filipino nurses who had rocks thrown at them on their way to deliver emergency care cover in Sunderland.