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MP calls for inquiry into medical racism

The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) has been urged to investigate whether ethnic minority doctors in middle-grade NHS posts are suffering discrimination. Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Dr Evan Harris has written to the CRE calling for a formal investigation into the position of doctors in non-consultant career grade (NCCG) posts.

Current rules mean many doctors who have trained outside the EU are unable to obtain a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training which prevents them progressing to consultants’ posts, although many perform the same tasks as consultant colleagues, for lower pay.

Dr Harris said about 70 per cent of doctors in NCCG posts were from ethnic minorities. He added: ‘The NHS is desperately short of consultants. Yet there are plenty of doctors capable of working at consultant level.’

Dr Mohib Khan, chair of the BMA’s NCCG sub-committee, told healthmatters: ‘There is no doubt whatsoever the Department of Health policy currently is effectively excluding a large number of doctors from ethnic minorities from progressing. It is nothing else but racism.’

A spokesperson for the CRE said the request was under serious consideration. If an inquiry goes ahead the CRE could issue a legally binding non-discrimination notice ordering changes to the rules.