The response came to FOI requests from the unions that found the number of reported racist incidents rose to 6,812 in 2025 from 3,652 in 2022.
RCN general secretary and chief executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: ‘These findings show a catastrophic rise in the racist abuse faced by nursing staff. It is a disgrace, and perhaps just as bad is the fact that many NHS trusts and health boards cannot even tell us how many staff have been on the receiving end.'
Calls to the RCN advice line about racist abuse or discrimination rose by 70% between 2022 and 2025.
The RCN called for NHS trusts and health boards to develop far more comprehensive protocols on what action will be taken upon receiving reports of racial abuse.
NHS trusts will be liable for harassment of their own staff by patients or their families unless they have taken all reasonable steps to prevent it happening as of October under the Employment Rights Act 2025.
The union urged health leaders and Governments across the UK to deliver standardised and streamlined incident reporting across NHS employers, recording staff role, work area and ethnicity of the person reporting the racist abuse.
It also criticised the use of anti-migrant rhetoric by politicians, which has helped to embolden racist behaviour. The union said the Westminster Government had made a bad situation worse by scapegoating migrant nursing staff, after changing the rules on Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Reaction
Dean Royles, interim chief executive of NHS Employers, said: ‘Despite the rising prevalence of racism including antisemitism and Islamophobia in our communities, NHS employers and their teams remain committed to rooting out all forms of racism and to taking firm action.
‘Health service leaders across the NHS know that visible leadership counts and they recognise the importance of tackling racism at work, be that from patients, staff or members of the public, to ensure their teams can work in a safe environment.'
Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England, said: ‘Racism against NHS staff is totally unacceptable - all local organisations must take a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, taking action including police involvement and criminal prosecution as appropriate.
‘We would encourage any staff that experience or witness racist incidents to report them so that action can be taken. It is essential that all staff feel safe to speak up and confident that action will be taken, and the NHS has set out targeted action required by local organisations including reviewing disciplinary processes and providing protection and comprehensive psychological support for anyone reporting concerns.'
