GOsC joins commitment by UK regulators to tackle racism in health and social care
21 May 2026
The General Osteopathic Council has signed a commitment, with other UK health and social care regulators, to nine shared anti-racism principles aimed at tackling racism in the workplace at every level of the health and social care system.
The principles are based on the NHS Race and Health Observatory’s anti-racism principles and informed by commitments made at a regulatory roundtable event held in June 2025.
The nine areas covered by the principles will support regulators in:
- Naming racism
- Valuing lived experience
- Showing leadership
- Collaborative working
- Data and insight development
- Empowering approaches
- Using our powers effectively
- Influencing progress together
- Transparency and accountability
This work represents a collaborative effort by regulators to address racism and inequality affecting health and care professionals across the UK, and offers response to compelling evidence that shows a strong correlation between people’s experience of discrimination and their ethnicity.
Other regulators that have signed up to these principles include the Care Quality Commission, General Chiropractic Council, General Optical Council, General Medical Council, General Pharmaceutical Council, Health and Care Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, and Social Work England.
Our Chief Executive, Matthew Redford, said:
‘While these principles offer an important step towards tackling racism, and I hope also demonstrate that we as regulators acknowledge the lived experiences of those from different ethnicities within the health and social care system, we know there is more work to do.
‘My GOsC colleagues and I will be working together and in collaboration with the osteopathy profession and other regulators, to identify and make changes that will see these principles delivered in practice.’
The principles are due to be reviewed annually, with more organisations expected to commit.
