EDI Priorities 20/21 workshop for patients, service users, carers and staff

On Monday 9th March 2020, the Trust held a workshop to identify our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) priorities for patients, service users, carers and staff for 2020/21. 

We invited a wide range of stakeholders from across the area including; patients, carers, service users, staff and partner organisations, so that we could have conversations about what our equality, diversity and inclusion priorities should look like for the next year.

The event was facilitated by Mandy Dawley (Head of Patient and Carer Experience and Engagement ) and John Duncan (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (workforce Lead) and was an enormous success, where nearly ninety patients, service users, carers and staff held topical and emotive discussions around the subject of equality, diversity and inclusion.

The room was divided into eight tables, four for staff and four for patients, service users and carers. These included our fantastic guests from Cottingham High School. Each and every idea was committed to post it notes, before the tables discussed in more depth the themes emerging from their conversations, before narrowing down their ideas into three key themes, which they then feedback to the whole room.

This produced a wealth of information from our patients, service users, carers , staff  and partners which was collected and from it the Trust can produce a range of equality, diversity and inclusion priorities, confident in the knowledge that these have not been produced in isolation. In doing so, the Trust can ensure that our equality agenda is truly co-produced in collaboration with our primary stakeholders and that our key drivers for improvement are the experiences of our valued patients, service users, carers and staff.

The event was well supported by our board with the event opened by Trust Chair of the Board, Sharon Mays and closing remarks provided by Mike Cooke, Non-Executive Director, and Michele Moran, Chief Executive.

Amongst the guests at the event were Rebecca Verlander, NHS England and NHS Improvement, who said of the event: “So many interesting discussions and such fabulous energy. Look forward to seeing this continue to develop and Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust to lead the way!”

Thanks to Kristina Poxon and the Health Stars team for supplying breakfast and refreshments for the event, as well as Lisa Arnold for help in organising the event. Finally, a big thank you to all ninety patients, service users, carers and staff who gave up their morning to help the Trust identity its equality, diversity and inclusion priorities for the next 12 months.

Our next step will be to analyse the key priorities identified and put together a coherent and robust strategy to deliver on these priorities over the coming 12 months, as well as ensuring we communicate our progress over the year.