24.05.12
NHS equality and diversity partners announced
NHS Employers has announced 12 new ‘equality and diversity partners’, including four new Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).
The partners were selected for their strong equality and diversity programmes. They were assessed against six criteria: improving patient access and experience, empowered, engaged and well-supported staff, inclusive leadership at all levels, better health outcomes for all, demonstration of commitment to the partners programme and benefits the organisation will receive from taking part.
Dean Royles, director of the NHS Employers organisation, said: “If you believe in the NHS you know that equality and diversity are essential to its success. Employers recognise the value of supporting staff from all backgrounds and understand the need to be responsive to the communities they serve.
“The NHS is making really good progress promoting equality and diversity. We know that unacceptable practice can have a negative impact on patient care and we need to take a zero tolerance approach to it.
“The Partners programme isn’t about ticking boxes or political correctness. It's about helping run the NHS in a professional and fair way and delivering excellent patient care. There is good evidence to show that NHS organisations function better when they support this agenda.
“Each new Partner has worked hard to ensure that equality and diversity is becoming part of the fabric of their organisation. It is especially encouraging to have several newly-established CCGs onboard. Despite grappling with the complexities of establishing new organisations, CCGs recognise that equality and diversity needs to be a top priority.”
The Partners are:
NHS Bassetlaw (CCG)
NHS Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus (CCG)
Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT (CCG)
NHS Bury and Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
BridgewaterCommunity Healthcare NHS Trust
Whittington Health
LincolnshirePartnership Foundation Trust
SouthEssexPartnershipUniversityNHS Foundation Trust
BerkshireHealthcare NHS Foundation Trust
SalfordRoyal NHS Foundation Trust
Staffordshire andStoke-on-TrentPartnership NHS Trust
Equality Partners Liverpool Health Economy, consisting of:
LiverpoolCommunity Health NHS Trust
Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust
RoyalLiverpooland Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust
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