Message from Dr Nnenna Osuji, Chief Executive, NHS North East London, following Golders Green attack

Dear colleagues,

Like me, you will have been shocked by the reports of the horrendous events in Golders Green where two members of the Jewish community were stabbed in broad daylight. The police have apprehended a suspect and an investigation is underway.

Yet another attack of this kind will of course cause worry and fear for our Jewish colleagues and residents, friends and neighbours, who we know already feel vulnerable and afraid of the rise in targeted attacks in London.

We know that you and your teams in primary care are experiencing a rise in unacceptable behaviour including antisemitic and racist abuse. This is unacceptable and abhorrent.

This increasing number of incidents is just one of the reasons that Paul Gilluley, our Chief Clinical and Quality Commissioning Officer, led listening events in all seven of our Places in NEL. This provided a safe space for you and your colleagues to share your experiences and for us to start to work together to look at how we both address this and support the workforce. Your feedback and thoughts are now being built into the work to develop a new Primary Strategy this year.

NHS North East London stands against hate crime and as an organisation. We are fully committed to tackling antisemitism and racism. It has no place in our workplace, in your workplace or in the communities we serve.

It was reassuring to see so many community leaders speak up this week, including the current Mayor of Hackney whose statement recognises the particular impact on residents in the Stamford Hill area.

If any staff member has been affected by this incident or other incidents they may have witnessed or experienced, please do look at the wellbeing support that is available:

• NHS Practitioner Health (PHP): A free, confidential NHS service for doctors and dentists in England experiencing mental health or addiction issues, particularly where these affect work. It is a self-referral service.
• BMA Counselling & Peer Support: A 24/7 service available to all doctors and medical students in the UK (not just BMA members).

If you witness or experience racism in the workplace, whether from residents or colleagues, please speak up and report it so we can work with you to address this and support you.

I know global events continue to affect us all and the impact is felt even more deeply when we experience incidents like these in London or even in our own communities and neighbourhoods.

What we must remain focused on is doing all we can to build a strong inclusive culture in our organisation and in our communities.

We are extremely proud to be a diverse organisation working in one of the most diverse areas of the country. We know practices and primary colleagues will feel the same. It is more important than ever that we are kind to ourselves and others, and that we support our colleagues and all those around us.

Let’s stand together to keep all those working in health and care in north east London safe, welcoming and supportive for everyone, and to truly value the strength in our diversity. Racism and antisemitism have no place here.

With best wishes

Nnenna