SIR - A recent report by the British Medical Journal which shows disparities between the pay of black and minority ethnic (BME) doctors and their white colleagues is further evidence of the need to tackle discrimination in the NHS.

Every doctor must be treated fairly and equally. It is disheartening that these issues are still arising - but as this report suggests, it is prevalent and requires urgent action. There can be no excuse for variations in pay when doctors are delivering the same level of patient care.

Staff surveys show BME doctors are at greater risk of harassment and bullying from colleagues and patients. With only seven per cent of senior managers in the NHS coming from BME backgrounds, barriers to progression are very much present.

There is also evidence of disproportionately higher complaints against BME staff.

BME staff make up a large part of the NHS workforce. The BMA will continue to campaign for all doctors to be treated equally but this requires efforts across the NHS. The government must do more to insure that all forms of discrimination are taken seriously and work towards eradicating unfair treatment within the NHS.

Dr Rajeev Gupta, Chairman BMA Yorkshire Regional Council, Chairman British Medical Association of Physicians of India Origin, Yorkshire Division