NHS announces probe into scandal-hit diversity manager after GB News investigation

NHS Health Education England (HEE) has launched an independent review after GB News revealed it had employed the disgraced former Rotherham councillor Mahroof Hussain as a National Diversity and Inclusion Manager.

The NHS body said: “As a result of the issues that have been raised, HEE has commissioned an independently led review to establish the circumstances and inform next steps.”

It added that “until the review is complete, HEE is not in position to comment on individual matters”.

An independent review into the hiring of Mahroof Hussain is now taking place
Facebook: Mahroof Hussain

Hussain resigned his cabinet position at Rotherham Council in 2015 amid reports that he "pushed back" discussions on the ethnicity of grooming gangs.

Dame Louise Casey’s report named Hussain and then Deputy Leader Jahangir Akhtar as it criticised senior Pakistani members of the council for wielding “disproportionate influence”.

Despite this and several other controversies, Hussain was appointed as the NHS Health Education England Regional Diversity & Inclusion Manager for the Midlands in October 2020.

In September 2022, he was promoted to become the national lead. NHS HEE did not comment on who was leading the investigation or its expected timeframe.

The Network of Sikh Organisations raised a complaint with NHS HEE after this broadcaster revealed the scandal last month.

Its director, Lord Singh of Wimbledon, told GB News: “Political correctness bordering on censorship is seen in the media use of camouflage words such as 'Asian', used by the BBC and the print media to obscure the fact that most members of grooming gangs in the north of England were from the Pakistani Muslim community.

"This led some members of the public to believe that Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists were also responsible.

"We will never get anywhere if we can’t have an honest conversation about things.”

He added: “This former Rotherham councillor did a disservice to the many victims in Rotherham, and his current employment in a senior diversity role in an NHS body is not just untenable, but adds insult to injury for victims still seeking justice, and trying to rebuild their shattered lives.

"We hope Health Education England’s investigation results in his dismissal.”