Racism in the NHS: let’s not rely on flawed surveys

Structural racism is undoubtedly a serious problem in the NHS, but the BMA’s survey is of no value in exploring the issue.1 It was open to all doctors and medical students in the UK, over 120 000 people. There were 2030 responses, a response rate of less than 2%. The only thing that can be reliably deduced from this kind of response rate is that the responders are atypical of the population being surveyed. It is simply wrong to report this as “the report surveyed 2030 UK doctors”2 or “an in depth survey of more than 2000 doctors.”3 It was a survey of 120 000 doctors (and medical students), of whom only 2030 responded.Furthermore, there was almost certainly a substantial amount of response bias. Our many colleagues who have experienced discrimination are surely far more likely to have responded than those who have not.A more honest report might have read:…
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