Recommendation 23

Discriminatory attitudes and assumptions about the pain tolerances of women from some racial and ethnic minority groups, particularly Black women, persist. This is wholly unacceptable. Racial discrimination by healthcare professionals must be vigorously rooted out. It is deeply disappointing that robust action to tackle this pernicious problem has not yet been taken. Steps to address racial discrimination must be included in the renewed Women’s Health Strategy. Compulsory training on avoiding racial biases in women’s health must be core components of training programmes for nurses and doctors. (Recommendation, Paragraph 102)