'There is racism in the NHS, just like there is everywhere else'

The bright yellow signs dotted throughout the public waiting areas at the Whittington Hospital yesterday made its position on racism to staff plain: "Verbal abuse is unacceptable. Appropriate action – including legal action – will be taken."

A recent NHS census demonstrated the gravity of the problem. It found that some 100,000 Asian and black NHS workers had reported being racially abused or attacked because of the colour of their skin.

Professor James Malone-Lee, the medical director at the Whittington Hospital, said: "The NHS employs large numbers of staff who are from ethnic minorities and it is very sad when we run into problems with people expressing very racist views."

It was Mr Malone-Lee who had raised the issue on Wednesday night when he suggested that Rose Addis had been selective in her choice of the nurses she would allow to attend to her.

The hospital, anxious to take some of the the heat out of the controversy, retracted the insinuation yesterday. But the reality of racism among some of those using the NHS has been apparent in the occasional comments of patients seeking advice from local community health councils. One CHC source said: "There is racism in the NHS and in the community, just like there is everywhere else."

The Whittington said it did not specifically record incidents of racism against staff but said it had recorded 83 cases of verbal abuse against employees during 2001.

Diane, a staff nurse whose family originate from Jamaica, confirmed the problem as she finished her shift on a general medical ward. She said: "It is the polite racism which is very difficult to deal with. The overt abuse, for example being called a 'black bitch' because you give someone an injection, is almost easier to deal with. You can report the abuser and make your displeasure clear.

"But when you have someone who says 'listen dearie, it is nothing personal but I'd rather you didn't touch me', that's very wounding. Unfortunately it is often a generational thing. It's people who are older, who are in pain or confused and don't want to know about being tolerant."

The Whittington Hospital said it had a formal system for reporting incidents of abuse or violence and took a "zero tolerance" attitude towards all forms of physical aggression or verbal attack. It is understood no member of staff made a complaint following Mrs Addis's treatment at the hospital.