‘Mission-critical to all that we stand for’
Evelyn Asante-Mensah, who co-chairs the assembly, said: “As inclusive leaders, it is vital that we all look at each of the areas set out in this anti-racist framework and seek to embed the change needed to transform our own departments and teams into places where this activity is not seen as just a nice to do, but is seen as mission-critical to all that we stand for.”
She said it was also vital that the messaging was “backed up by senior colleagues across the region, being clear that actions to tackle inequalities are a priority in all that we do”.
She added: “While there is not a one size fits all solution to advancing equity within any one organisation, we hope that the guidance and structure provided will help with the task of co-creating the solutions that will work for organisations to address racial inequalities faced by their workforce, patients and the communities served.”
An analysis by Mr Barclay found that NHS bosses had ignored orders to scrap diversity jobs by hiring dozens of new equalities staff.
More than 35 EDI roles have been advertised since Sir Keir Starmer’s Government took power. All but six allowed staff to work from home, and some posts offered salaries of more than £80,000. The 35 roles advertised since July 5 are the equivalent of a diversity job every week under Labour.'
'Under the Anti-Racist Network being rolled out across the North West, hospitals, ambulance services and integrated care boards have committed to achieving “bronze status” by next month. This requires them to appoint an executive or director level EDI sponsor with a commitment to advancing anti-racism.
Achieving silver status means all managers and senior clinical staff must have a personal development plan goal agreed “around equality, diversity and inclusion”, while an executive director must attend “black, Asian and minority ethnic” staff network meetings at least four times a year.
The plans state that gold status means “an organisation’s board of directors diversity by ethnicity must match closely the diversity of the local population or at the minimum include one black, Asian or minority ethnic member (whichever figure is higher)”.
The latest annual report for the North West Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Assembly, backed by NHS England North West – which brings together more than 70 NHS leaders – quotes seven senior EDI NHS figures at local trusts and care boards.'
There you go... quotas.