Conference:  Improving Performance Through Diversity.  On Thursday 30th September at the King's Fund, London.  More information.

Did you know...?

• 24% of deaf or hearing impaired people have missed at least one appointment in a primary care setting because of poor communication, such as not being able to hear staff calling out their name (RNIB, 2006);
• Infant mortality in England and Wales for children born to mothers from Pakistan is almost double the average (Office for National Statistics, 2008);
• Only 7% of NHS staff, who have experienced bullying, harassment or abuse from colleagues, feel that their trust takes effective action in such cases (NHS Employers, 2007).

Equality and Human Rights are an integral part of the core business of the NHS, and, through the supplier chain, other healthcare providers.

The NHS is currently undergoing a period of fundamental cultural reform.  The founding and enduring values of universality and fairness remain, but the systemic bias that can be caused by unthinking or dated processes is being replaced by a patient centred approach, which recognises that in order to treat people fairly, we often need to treat them differently.

The equality duties and the new Equality Act may present challenges to challenges to healthcare organisations.  At Healthcare Equality Partners, we understand the environment, competing pressures and constraints within which you work and we can help you to achieve your equality and diversity goals more effectively and efficiently.  Our mission is to stay at the forefront of the emerging equalities agenda and provide you with the support and expertise that you need to do the same.  Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

"There can be nothing more critical to good governance in the NHS than to ensure that your organisation offers a service 'open to all at the point of access'."

Anne Watts CBE Chair, Appointments Commission

Healthcare Equality Partners is a trading name of Vincent Hodges and Associates.

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