NHS radiographers are experiencing racist abuse by patients, who have called them “monkeys” and refused to be seen by black and Asian staff, according to a report. A survey of 381 members of the Society of Radiographers revealed a “noticeable” rise in instances of overt racism experienced and witnessed by radiographers across the health service over the past 18 months. One patient made jokes about a radiographer’s headscarf and complained they couldn’t understand her; she speaks with a mild Yorkshire accent. For Awah, the current political climate and rhetoric about immigration from the far right has a part to play in the increase in racism experienced by NHS staff. The chief human resources and organisational development officer at NHS England, Thomas Simonssaid: “Racist abuse towards NHS staff is completely unacceptable and has no place in our health service.