Today is named 999 day in Britain which celebrates the emergency services staff, and those who dedicate their time and efforts to the public duty of care. The day which falls on 9 September is also used as an opportunity to inform the public on the use of the emergency services.
This is a significant day to recognise, as everyone who works in this field such as nurses, doctors, firefighters, lifeboat teams, technicians, volunteers, and even animal service dogs, are being celebrated for their efforts.
The founder and current chief executive is Mr. Tom Scholes–Egg, who started the initiative in 2018 with backing from then-Prime Minister Theresa May and significant support from the late Queen Elizabeth II. The event continues to receive royal endorsement from King Charles and Camilla, emphasising the contributions of those who play a crucial role in keeping Britain safe. A former police officer and Special Constabulary member, Scholes–Egg notes that all funds raised on this day support the work of 999 services and the NHS across the UK.
As a multicultural society, we recognise the vital contributions of all ethnicities to emergency services. Ethnic minorities play a crucial role in the success and lifesaving support provided by the NHS and emergency services.
The NHS Workforce Race and Equality Standard continue to investigate into the representation of ethnic minorities within the emergency services through their reports. These highlight the documentation of statistics around ethnic minorities and their progression in these fields.
The latest 2023 report shows that ethnic minorities make up 24.2% of the NHS workforce. This is an increase of 27,500 jobs from the 2021 report of 22.4%.
42% of doctors, dentists, and consultants identify as a minority within the UK, as well as nearly a third of nurses, midwives, and health visitors (29.2%). However comparatively to the ethnic minority population in the UK, these stats are still too low.
The ethnic minority population as documented in a 2021 UK census, provides stats showing that 9.3% of the UK are of Asian ethnic groups, followed by 4% being black, 2.9% identifying as mixed, and 2.1% being placed under other ethnic groups.
Additionally, this report shows from 2011 to 2022, the Asian ethnic group in firefighting went from 0.5% to 0.7%, and mixed ethnic groups went from 1.2% to 2.3%. From these stats it can be agreed that considering the South Asian community makes up 7.5% of the UK population, this is not representatively shown through the emergency services.
This is echoed by Amanda Pritchard, Chief executive of the NHS England stating “NHS boards are continuing to go in the right direction, which evidence shows is not only better for staff, but for patients too. But we know there is still significant room for improvement to change the experience of Black, Minority and Ethnic staff, which is why we are continuing to support local NHS organisations to help them tackle race inequality – including setting local targets to ensure their senior leadership is fully representative.”
Additionally, Dr Navina Evans, NHS England Chief Workforce Officer agreed with Ms Pritchard as she stated, “It is encouraging to see improvements in today’s report, but it is also clear that there is still more work to do to improve the experience for our Black, Minority and Ethnic colleagues”. As for celebrating the 999 day identifying the issues of representation is essential to promote equality within our multicultural society.
As of yet the Prime Minister has not posted or acknowledged the achievements of those within the emergency services today. Furthermore, the Royal Family’s official press releases have also not commented.
However, the official Royal Family’s social media have reported some acknowledgment of the day. But no direct tributes as of yet. The Royal Family has previously been extremely vocal in support of this day, and the lack of acknowledgment amongst sadly many health issues the Royals have faced this year, has been noted thus far.
