NHS trusts defend diversity jobs after Elon Musk criticism

Two NHS trusts have responded after Elon Musk criticised their job advert for an equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) position.

Musk reacted to a video showing diversity related roles advertised on the government website on his social media platform X last week.

The South African born billionaire said the positions were a result of the "woke mind virus".

Isle of Wight and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trusts, whose adverts featured in the video, said they "strive to ensure everyone has equal access to career opportunities and care".

The two trusts, which work in partnership and are led by the same executives, had been advertising for an EDI project manager.

The manager "plays a crucial role to ensure our services and employment are equitable for all and meet the diverse needs of our local communities", they said in a statement to the BBC.

The role in question had a starting salary of £46,000 and was only open to internal applicants.

Musk's post criticising the position has been reposted by more than 12,000 people, and seen more than 6.7 million times.

In it, he said: "The woke mind virus propagates like cordyceps through government and corporations."

His criticisms of EDI schemes have been echoed by US President Donald Trump, who signed multiple executive orders against the programmes when he returned to office in January.

He ordered that all US government staff working on EDI schemes be put on immediate leave and called for an end to the "dangerous, demeaning and immoral" programmes.

EDI programmes aim to promote participation in workplaces by people from a range of backgrounds.

Supporters say they address historical underrepresentation and discrimination against certain groups including racial minorities but critics say such programmes can themselves be discriminatory.

Another executive order saw President Trump create the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which is led by Musk and aims to slash federal spending.

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