Equality and Diversity

The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust has many initiatives and groups in place to support and drive forward the work in the important area of equality and diversity. The Trust lead for diversity across the organisation is the Deputy Director of Human Resources. This includes both patient and staffing issues.

The Trust considers that all aspects of diversity are equally important, and strives to make continual improvements in the areas of age, disability, gender, race, religion and sexual orientation.

Click here for help viewing PDFs.

Quick Links
Disability Forum		Improving Working Lives
Equality & Diversity Group		Racial Harrasment Forum
Disability Equality Scheme		Zero Tolerance
Race Equality Scheme		Disability Issues Adviser Network
Gender Equality Scheme		Equality Impact Assessments
Respecting Diversity Group		Monitoring
Suffolk Black & Minority Ethnic Staff Network		Diversity Champions

Respecting Diversity User Group
The Respecting Diversity User Group was established to reflect the population which The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust serves in the local community. The aim of the group is to give guidance and advice to the Trust on particular needs and concerns from the multi-cultural mix of Suffolk assisting the Trust in meeting the needs of the local population, from both a clinical and spiritual basis.

It is important that minority groups, perhaps not fluent in English, are aware of what health services are available to them, and equally what to expect from the NHS Plan. It is the responsibility of this group to give guidance to the Trust on how it can inform, and keep informed, local ethnic groups and to support and enable them to be partners in care.

Community members are invited to meet with the group and other users to discuss care at present, ways forward to better services and understanding of needs, and one another. Cross communication is and will be the key issue. It is hoped that new relationships will help empower those involved to participate actively in the forward planning of future services and standards of care.

If the NHS is to succeed in being the people’s health service, it needs to meet its people in their needs, transcending language and cultural barriers, with avenues of communication and participation reflective of the individuals.

For further information on the work of the Respecting Diversity User Group, please contact Jennifer Canham, Director of Human Resources, on 01473 704109 or click here to email Jennifer.