People who are racist towards NHS staff “can and should” be rejected, the health secretary has said.
Wes Streeting has condemned the “stupid violence” seen across Britain following the stabbings in Southport last week.
As far-right violence spread between towns and cities, Filipino nurses were attacked on Friday night as they traveled to work for emergency cover during the riots in Sunderland.
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Speaking to the PA news agency, Streeting said the people who attacked them had “brought enormous shame to our country”.
According to reports, the taxi they were traveling in was hit by rocks and they were “terrified”, the Mirror reported, although they were physically unharmed.
“I will not, under any circumstances, tolerate NHS or social care staff in any health or care setting being subjected to bullying, harassment or racist abuse,” Streeting said.
“We have a zero tolerance policy in the NHS and will take a zero tolerance approach in social care too.
“People who abuse NHS staff can be rejected, and should be rejected, if this is how they treat our staff.”
He added that the country is “lucky” to have people in the NHS who “come from all over the world to provide excellent, compassionate care”.
“I’m proud we have these people in Britain. I think the vast majority of Brits are too,” he said.
“And those people who hijacked our flag through their stupid, racist violence – have no idea of this country’s history or heritage, and have brought enormous shame to our country by attacking NHS staff in this way.”
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Professor Nicola Ranger, general secretary and chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said guidance on when and how patients can be refused care has been updated.
It comes after GP leaders issued a warning to GPs amid reports that staff had been “targeted” during the attacks.
Family doctors and their teams were urged to “remain vigilant, especially when traveling to and from work”.
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The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) highlighted “horrific and unacceptable” abuse and violence against healthcare professionals, “especially those from ethnic minorities”.
The RCGP urged staff to travel in groups “wherever possible” and to try to avoid areas where there is known unrest.
Meanwhile, two doctors’ surgeries in north-east London said they planned to close on Wednesday morning due to possible unrest in the area.
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