The NHS provides a comprehensive service, available to all irrespective of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief. It has a duty to each and every individual that it serves and must respect their human rights. At the same time, it has a wider social duty to promote equality through the services it provides and to pay particular attention to groups or sections of society where improvements in health and life expectancy are not keeping pace with the rest of the population.

Only by building equality into every aspect of our work will we create a truly patient centred and responsive service which provides equal access to services, meeting the needs and wishes of all groups within our society.

Listed below are the key activities will will be focusing on during 2010-11:

• Work with Primary Care Trusts across the region to support 100% compliance with the equalities legislation, policy and guidance.
• Research and disseminate best practice on equalities.
• Ensure equality is embedded within planning and commissioning plans so that services are more suitable and accessible.
• Increase access to primary mental health services for people from black and minority ethnic groups.

For more information please contact our Equalities lead - Deborah Goodchild.

Please use the links on the left to access further information.