Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard (MWRES) Update: Where are we now?

Join us for the launch of the latest progress report on the Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard on September 9th 2025. This event is hosted by ARC Northwest London and the Ethnicity and Health Unit.

What has happened so far?

The Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard (MWRES) report was published in July 2021 based on data from 2020 across the medical workforce in NHS England. The data covered the range of experience from medical school to seniority and looked at both objective data on progression and disciplinary processes, as well as subjective data from the NHS staff survey.

Subsequently, an action plan (‘A Commitment to Collaborate’) was published in February 2023. It focused on five specific areas of improvement, developed through a consensus process. The co-design involved multiple organisations across the health sector, including NHS England, formerly Health Education England (now NHS England Workforce Training & Education), NHS Employers, the General Medical Council, the British Medical Association, NHS Resolution, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, and NHS Employers. The aim was to enlist the full range of national organisations in programmes of action.

What is happening now?

In 2025, we are launching an MWRES 5 Year Report which examines the work carried out by different organisations over the past two years, along with subsequent data sets, to monitor any progress on the issues highlighted. The report will be organised around the five domains of the original ‘Commitment to Collaborate’ document.

Why join us?

The focus of this work has never been more important as the climate of working on matters of inclusion has fluctuated at the national level. This 5 Year report also makes some recommendations about the next steps and areas for organisations to adopt in their drive to tackle racism across the medical workforce. Ultimately, changing the experience of doctors in the NHS is the responsibility of local organisations working in tandem with national organisations – it is not an ‘either-or’, but a ‘both together’ situation.

This event aims to unite leaders and partners across the health sector to reflect on progress, share insights, and strengthen our collective commitment to tackling racism in the medical workforce.

Join us on the 9th September to:

• Hear from leaders and frontline voices
• Explore progress across the five domains of the action plan
• Connect with peers and partners committed to equity