The NHS has a range of legal duties in relation to equality and human rights. These are based on legislation relating to public sector organisations and are designed to ensure that services and employment practices treat staff and users of services fairly and do not discriminate against people because of their diversity.
The promotion of equality, inclusion and human rights is intrinsic to being an NHS Foundation Trust and as such Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to embedding equality and diversity values into everyday practices, policies and procedures.
To further develop our equality and inclusion work Derby Hospitals agreed, in January 2011, to implement the new NHS Equality Delivery System (EDS) and integrate its existing equality scheme priorities into the EDS outcomes.
The Equality Delivery System (EDS) is a tool created by the Department of Health to improve the equality performance of the NHS and embed equality into mainstream business. The EDS is about real people making real improvements that can be sustained over time. It focuses on the things that matter the most for patients, communities and staff. It emphasises genuine engagement, transparency and the effective use of evidence. By using the EDS, we will be able to meet the requirements of the Equality Act as well as the essential standards for care described by our regulator and licenser, the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The EDS has 18 outcomes, grouped under four goals:
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Better health outcomes for all.
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Improved patient access and experience.
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Empowered, engaged and included staff.
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Inclusive leadership.
The purpose of the report attached is to demonstrate how the Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is meeting the Equality Act General Duty to:
- eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited under the Act
- advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it
- foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
The report also:
- Meets the Equality Act Public Sector Equality Duty to publish information on equality
- Publishes our workforce data
- Derby Hospitals current grading against the NHS Equality Delivery System.
In addition we have published below Derby Hospitals Equality Objectives for 2012 - 2013. These outline the main priority areas of equality work the Trust will undertake over the coming year based on issues raised in the Equality Assurance Report.
For any questions regarding either the Equality Assurance Report or our Equality objectives for 2012 - 2013 please email Adrian.piggott@derbyhospitals.nhs.uk or call 01332 788980
Equality assurance report 2012
