NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard has issued a statement following the far-right attacks and riots across England.
She thanked NHS workers who cared for those injured and killed in the stabbing attack in Southport including the North West Ambulance Service crews who attended the scene, the receiving teams at Southport and Formby, Ormskirk, Alder Hey, Aintree, and Manchester Children’s Hospitals, as well as the many other colleagues in those trusts, Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board and the North West region who helped coordinate the response.
She said the suffering of the people of Southport and other touched by the violence there is "unfathomable".
Pritchard added: "Sadly, the riots that followed in Southport, and then other towns and cities over the course of the week, also warrant – indeed they require -comment.
"The deplorable violence, intimidation and thuggery we have seen – and particularly the arson attack on the hotel in Rotherham housing asylum seekers – can and should be lent no justification. It is fundamentally wrong, fundamentally un-British, and a source of deep shame."
The Mirror reported that rioters in Sunderland threw rocks at NHS nurses on their way to work as emergency cover.
"The professionalism," she said, "of the NHS staff in Southport and elsewhere who are dealing with the consequences, and of course those in our police, fire and other services working to protect communities, restore order and fix the destruction caused."
She also addressed those in positions of leadership, saying: "My ask of you is equally simple: in your words, but more importantly in your actions, please ensure you are demonstrating that most British value of community, now more than ever.
"And specifically, show in your actions that when we say we have zero tolerance of racism towards our patients or colleagues, in whatever form it takes, we really mean it – even when it is difficult or uncomfortable."
NHS England said on X: "For many NHS staff, the recent racist violence in this country will leave them feeling afraid and unwelcome. To those colleagues, our message is simple: you are welcome and you are valuable members of our community."
