Statement from Chief Professional Officers
Date published:
The appalling and violent scenes of recent days are nothing short of shameful.
That people should be targeted and threatened simply because of their ethnicity, skin colour or cultural background is utterly despicable.
That they should be intimidated out of their own homes is vile. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and to live in a safe environment free from harm and intimidation.
We know there will be many of our international colleagues within the committed and dedicated Health & Social Care and independent sector workforce who will be distressed by what has unfolded.
We know that, less than a year after similar scenes on our streets last summer, you are once again left feeling frightened and anxious.
But please know this: You are welcome, you are deeply valued, and you have our full support. We are the better for your presence here.
This behaviour is not representative of Northern Ireland, nor the people who live here.
At this time, it is important that each one of us reaches out to provide comfort and support to our friends and colleagues who have come here from outside of Northern Ireland.
The hugely valuable contribution that our diverse internationally educated and recruited colleagues and friends make to our health and social care service is very well recognised.
They go out to work each and every day, serving our communities with professionalism, dignity, kindness and compassion.
We stand with them and condemn, in the strongest possible terms, these blatant acts of racist thuggery.
Professor Sir Michael McBride
Chief Medical Officer
Professor Maria McIlgorm
Chief Nursing Officer
Aine Morrison
Chief Social Worker
Professor Cathy Harrison
Chief Pharmaceutical Officer
Professor Ian Young
Chief Scientific Adviser
Professor Michelle Tennyson
Chief Allied Health Professions Officer
Caroline Lappin
Chief Dental Officer
Caroline Keown
Chief Midwifery Officer
Professor Nichola Rooney
Chief Psychological Professions Officer
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