HEALTH staff could soon be given race relations training in a bid to prevent misunderstandings between Asian and white workers.

The move is expected to be recommended in a report into allegations of institutionalised racism at Queen's Park Hospital in Blackburn.

The report, due to be released today, is expected to recommend all staff undergo training to deal with race relations issues.

The inquiry was held into allegations, brought against Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust by Blackburn with Darwen Racial Equality Council, that two Asian consultants were treated less favourably than white counterparts.

It was led by former paediatrician and Commission for Racial Equality member Lord Chan and Christine Jackson.

The inquiry examined events over a period of five-and-a-half years at the hospital.

The complaint arises from 1997 when staff in the obstetrics and gynaecology department complained about the practices of an Asian consultant. He was suspended immediately and reinstated after being retrained but he took the trust to an industrial tribunal in March this year which rejected his claims of racial discrimination and victimisation.

The report is expected to say that while the trust is not institutionally racist, senior managers acted too defensively when allegations were made and their behaviour was seen as 'racist' by the complainants.

It will recommend a training programme to be set up so staff are keenly aware of how to deal with race issues in the workplace. A report two months ago by the independent Commission for Health Improvement praised BHRV trust, which was awarded the top three-star status by the Government earlier in the year, particularly in its recruitment from the ethnic community.