Why equality, diversity and inclusion matter
As a Healthwatch, our sole purpose is to make care better for everyone. We want to make sure that everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, can get the care they need.
What we did
We held several focus groups and surveys to gather feedback from the community. We wanted to hear from people about their experiences with health and care services, what’s working well, and what needs to improve. We spoke to 46 people, including both the public and professionals, to get a well-rounded view.
We listened to:
- people who live or access services in Craven.
- people who live in North Yorkshire but travel to West Yorkshire to access healthcare.
- people who live and use services in West Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire Voice is a network run by local Healthwatch to provide local voices to the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (a statutory in charge of the NHS in West Yorkshire). Craven comes under NHS services in West Yorkshire.
We invited people to share their feedback and ideas about what should be included in the region's new strategy for health and care services.
"Things should never be doneon behalf of people. They should be involved throughout."
Key findings - and action to be taken
The NHS is committed to using the findings from the equality, diversity, and inclusion strategy report to make meaningful changes in how health and care services are delivered. Here are some key actions they plan to take:
- Implementing clear communication standards: Ensuring that all health and care services adhere to the Accessible Information Standard (AIS) to provide clear and adapted communication for everyone.
- Person-centred care: Promoting a holistic approach to care where health professionals see patients as whole individuals, not just their symptoms. This includes making reasonable adjustments for disabilities and involving patients in their care decisions.
- Community-based service design: Designing and delivering services based on community needs. This involves using local resources and ensuring services are accessible to all, especially those in rural or underserved areas.
- Diverse workforce and leadership: Increasing diversity in the workforce and leadership roles. This includes creating more pathways for people from diverse backgrounds to enter and advance in the health and care sector.
- Creating welcoming environments: Making physical spaces in health and care settings more welcoming and inclusive, ensuring that everyone feels safe and comfortable.
- Cultural competence training: Providing meaningful training for staff on cultural sensitivity and competence to better understand and meet the needs of diverse communities.
- Early intervention and preventative care: Investing in early intervention and preventative care, particularly in mental health services, to reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes.
- Accountability and monitoring: Setting clear goals and regularly checking progress to ensure the new approach is making a real difference. This includes involving the community in evaluating the impact of the strategy.
- Engaging missing voices: Continuing to reach out to underrepresented groups to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met in the ongoing development and implementation of the strategy.
By taking these steps, the NHS aims to create a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive health and care system that works for everyone.
NHS commitment to improving
Read more from NHS England about how they are going to make changes:
Why equality, diversity and inclusion matter
Having a new approach is about making sure everyone gets a fair chance at good health and care. It’s about breaking down barriers and ensuring that services are accessible, welcoming, and effective for everyone. By listening to the community and making these changes, we can create a health and care system that truly works for all.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion are essential in NHS and social care services because they ensure that every individual, regardless of their background, identity, or circumstances, receives fair and compassionate care.
When services are inclusive, they can better understand and meet the diverse needs of all communities, leading to more accurate diagnoses, effective treatments, and improved health outcomes. Embracing diversity also fosters a more supportive environment for staff, enabling them to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to patient care.
By prioritising equality, diversity, and inclusion, the NHS and social care services can build trust, reduce health inequalities, and provide respectful, person-centered care to everyone.
