Wes Streeting Calls NHS to Stop Promoting 'Anti-Whiteness'

Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has raised concerns about diversity and inclusion practices within the NHS, criticizing instances of 'anti-whiteness' as counterproductive to the goals of equality. He highlighted that while addressing real health inequalities affecting both white working-class individuals and minority communities is essential, some actions under the guise of diversity have been 'daft' and detrimental. Streeting pointed to alarming statistics, such as black men being twice as likely to die from prostate cancer and black women three times more likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts. He emphasized the need for a focus on genuine equality applicable to all, rather than 'ideological hobby horses' that distract from critical healthcare disparities. Streeting's comments come amid ongoing debates about the role of diversity and inclusion in health services, particularly following scrutiny of such programs since 2020. He called for collaboration with professionals to address these challenges effectively.