Challenge to racism must continue

EDITOR—As McKenzie highlights in his editorial, the emphasis to date has been on the role of racism in recruitment and career development.1 This must continue despite initiatives and legislation such as the recent Race Relations Amendment Act, as racism still exists in the NHS.2 We need to continue to challenge racism not only from our colleagues but also from our patients—zero tolerance is needed.3

The importance of racism on health and health care will not diminish owing to increasing migration to the United Kingdom particularly from east European countries. The often hostile reception of the public, media, and some politicians reinforces the negative attitudes that prevail,4 and these may manifest through acute and chronic stress to the detriment of the individual. Research on evaluating the mechanism for racism and health outcomes is in early infancy; most studies are being conducted in the United States. We agree with McKenzie that further funding is needed in this area.

The biological models alluded to seem plausible, but before investigating these further substantial research needs to …