Staff at the trust which runs King George Hospital have reported a rise in “discriminatory incidents” in an annual survey.

Ilford Recorder: Deborah Tarramt, director of people and organisational development at BHRUTDeborah Tarramt, director of people and organisational development at BHRUT (Image: Archant)

But Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust (BHRUT) revealed there had been marked improvements elsewhere.

Motivation to work, willingness to recommend the trust as an employer and engagement between staff and management had all improved on last year.

The trust, which also runs Queen’s Hospital, Romford, said black and ethnic minority staff had reported a 2.56 per cent rise in discriminatory incidents in the previous 12 months.

Director of people and organisational development Deborah Tarrant said the trust was aware of the problem.

She said: “We know that we have pockets of staff behaviours that are not appropriate – it’s an area that we have planned into this year’s programme to really focus on and hopefully rectify.

“We have a duty to our staff to understand what’s happening and improve that. For me, it comes down to a zero tolerance of any inappropriate behaviour and just having dignity and respect.

“It is completely unacceptable not to have that level of respect for other people.”

The survey did not allow data to be collected and analysed from the hospitals individually, but Ms Tarrant was aware some members of staff believed King George Hospital was not prioritised.

Ms Tarrant said work had been done to improve the situation, with the executive board meeting at the hospital in Barley Lane, Goodmayes.

She said the trust had also been tweeting more about King George.

“Queen’s is a big hospital and there’s just more here, that is always going to be an issue. But it is about showing our staff that we’re all one organisation, we’re all one team working across two communities.”