Despite playing a critical role in sustaining Britain’s healthcare system, foreign health professionals report a sharp rise in workplace hostility, open racism, and patient discrimination.
The dream of better pay and improved working conditions that has driven thousands of Nigerian healthcare professionals to the United Kingdom is increasingly colliding with a troubling reality: racial abuse in the workplace.
A new survey by the UK Society of Radiographers (SoR) has revealed an increase in racist incidents against healthcare workers across the National Health Service (NHS), exposing what many describe as the hidden cost of Nigeria’s ongoing “Japa” migration.
The findings come as Nigeria continues to lose doctors, nurses, radiographers and other health professionals to the UK and other developed countries amid worsening economic conditions and persistent challenges in the country’s health sector.
Among those sharing their experiences is Nigerian-born diagnostic radiographer, Paul Awah, who works in Bedfordshire.
According to him, racist behaviour has become more open and frequent in recent years.
“It’s definitely got worse. People are more expressive now. What used to be something people wouldn’t say, now the rhetoric has changed,” he said.
Awah also recounted instances where patients claimed they could not understand his English, despite it being the only language he speaks.
From ‘Dirty Foreigner’ to ‘Monkey’
The survey paints an unsettling picture of life for many ethnic minority healthcare workers.
Some respondents said patients refused treatment because of the colour of their skin, while others reported being called “dirty foreigners” and “monkeys.”
One healthcare worker said patients routinely complained about being attended to by Black staff.
In another incident, a white patient reportedly refused to allow a sonographer to scan his pregnant wife because of the worker’s ethnicity, while another allegedly declined a chest X-ray from a Black radiographer, saying Black people frightened him.
Healthcare workers also reported hearing anti-immigrant remarks blaming foreign professionals for taking jobs in Britain.
A Growing Concern for Nigerian Professionals
The report raises fresh concerns for Nigerian healthcare workers, who make up one of the fastest-growing international workforces within the NHS.
Over the past few years, thousands of Nigerian doctors, nurses and allied health professionals have relocated abroad in search of higher salaries, safer working environments and better career prospects.
While migration has provided economic opportunities, the latest findings suggest many professionals are also confronting discrimination that often goes unnoticed.
According to the latest NHS Staff Survey, 9.26 per cent of NHS employees reported experiencing discrimination in 2025 the highest level recorded in five years.
The findings have intensified calls for stronger protection of frontline healthcare workers against racial abuse.
READ ALSO:
- Nigeria Secures $500m Gavi Support to Boost Immunisation, Primary Healthcare
- Nigeria’s Medical Tourism Plummets 96% as Local Healthcare Capacity Surges
- The Healthcare Rights Most Nigerians Don’t Know They Have
- FCTA Targets Defaulting HMOs Over Unpaid Healthcare Funds
Reacting to the report, NHS England described racist abuse against healthcare workers as completely unacceptable.
Chief Human Resources and Organisational Development Officer, Thomas Simons, said NHS organisations must take meaningful action to prevent racism, support affected employees and ensure abusive patients face consequences.
Under existing NHS guidance, hospitals can refuse non-emergency treatment to patients who racially abuse healthcare workers.
For many Nigerians considering relocation, the survey offers a reminder that migration is not without its challenges.
Beyond better salaries and improved living standards, Nigerian healthcare workers abroad are increasingly navigating discrimination, cultural prejudice and workplace hostility even as they continue to play a vital role in sustaining Britain’s healthcare system.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.