Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where people feel valued, listened to and able to be themselves, whether they are patients, service users, carers, colleagues, partners or members of the public.

Diversity strengthens our organisation. Inclusion helps people feel they belong. Equality helps ensure that everyone has fair access to opportunities, services and support.

Together, these principles help us deliver better experiences, better outcomes and better care.

Our commitment

We are committed to:
• Treating people fairly and with respect
• Creating an inclusive workplace culture. Find out more about our Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES)
• Reducing barriers to access and participation
• Supporting colleagues to reach their potential
• Understanding and responding to the needs of diverse communities. Read more on our social value
• Challenging discrimination, bullying and harassment. More on Freedom to Speak Up
• Promoting dignity, compassion and respect in everything we do

Supporting our patients and communities

Find out more the NHS Core20PLUS5 approach

The communities we serve are diverse, and healthcare experiences are not the same for everyone.

We recognise that some groups experience greater barriers when accessing healthcare services and may experience poorer outcomes as a result.

We are committed to understanding these challenges and working with patients, carers, community organisations and partners to make our services more inclusive, accessible and responsive.

This includes work focused on:
• Health inequalities
• Accessibility
• Communication needs
• Dementia-friendly services
• Neurodiversity
• Kidney care
• End-of-life care
• Community engagement and lived experience

An inclusive workplace

Our colleagues come from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, experiences and communities.

We believe everyone should feel safe, supported and able to contribute.

We are committed to fostering a workplace where:
• Individual differences are respected
• Diverse perspectives are welcomed
• Opportunities are fair and accessible
• People feel able to speak up
• Everyone can develop and succeed

Creating an inclusive culture is everyone’s responsibility.

Listening and learning

We know that creating a truly inclusive organisation requires continuous learning and improvement.

We actively seek feedback from:
• Patients and service users
• Carers and families
• Colleagues
• Community groups
• Charities and voluntary organisations
• Healthcare partners

These insights help us understand experiences, identify barriers and improve the services we provide.

Accessibility and inclusion

See more on Accessible Information Standard (AIS)

Accessibility is a key part of inclusion.

We are working to remove communication and accessibility barriers through initiatives including:
• Accessible Information Standard (AIS) improvements
• Easy Read communications
• Website accessibility tools
• Relay UK support
• Accessibility reviews informed by lived experience

By making information easier to access and understand, we can improve experiences for patients and service users across our services.

Working in partnership

We work with a range of organisations to better understand the needs of the communities we serve and to improve access, experience and outcomes. These partnerships help ensure that diverse voices are heard and that improvements are shaped by the people most affected by them.

Reducing inequalities

Reducing inequalities is a key part of our approach to equality, diversity and inclusion. Through community engagement, accessibility improvements, patient feedback and partnership working, we seek to identify barriers and make meaningful improvements that help ensure services are accessible to everyone. Our work aligns closely with the NHS Core20PLUS5 approach to reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes for underserved communities.

Our commitments

We will continue to: • Promote equality and inclusion across our organisation • Listen to the voices of patients, colleagues and communities • Challenge discrimination and unfair treatment • Improve accessibility and communication • Support diverse communities • Reduce inequalities wherever we can • Create environments where everyone feels respected, valued and included Together, we can build services and workplaces that are fairer, more inclusive and more responsive to the people we serve.