Overview

• Between 2022 and 2024, 154 NHS trusts allocated £1,834,005.60 to internal diversity and inclusion networks, according to TaxPayers’ Alliance FOI data.
• These networks hosted over 1,000 events at 80 trusts, including Eurovision watch parties, pride crafting, International Pronouns Day celebrations and Afro hair workshops.
• TaxPayers’ Alliance campaign manager Joanna Marchong criticised the outlay as ‘astonishing’ given the pressure of junior doctor walkouts and expanding patient waiting lists.
• Reform UK’s Richard Tice and Conservative shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew condemned the expenditure as wasteful ‘woke’ spending diverting resources from patient care.
• An NHS spokesman defended the initiatives as low-cost measures that bolster staff morale, retention and productivity while generating long-term savings.