Delivering on equalities

In support of the article Free seminar on new equality system, on page two of the 29 June 2011 issue of RCN Bulletin.

Wendy Irwin, the RCN's Diversity and Equalities Co-ordinator, explains a little more about the Equality Delivery System

What is the Equality Delivery System?

The Equality Delivery System (EDS) is an initiative of the NHS Equality and Diversity Council. It has been based on established equalities practice drawn from the NHS North West and it aims to help the health service to improve its equalities performance for staff, patients and communities. The EDS is intended to provide a high level of consistency by providing a national equalities framework for local adaptation. It is also said to support NHS commissioners to plan for the needs of the communities they serve as well as help NHS providers respond to the Care Quality Commission registration requirements.

What does it try to achieve?

According to the Equality and Diversity Council, the EDS aims to ensure NHS organisations comply with the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 and help the NHS to deliver on the Government’s commitment to fairness and personalisation.

How will it make a difference?

Good engagement and evidence are said to be central to the operation of the EDS in practice and, now more than ever, unions and other professional organisations need to find new ways to secure better equality outcomes for stakeholders. In the context of a rapidly changing NHS and economic austerity, embedding equality in a systematic way with a focus on practical impact might well be one of the few tools left by which activists, diversity champions, performance and equality leads can effectively challenge poor decision making.

Is it only relevant to the NHS? 

The EDS will help an impact on all agencies involved in health care including social enterprises and the voluntary and community sector

How can you find out more or get involved?

Come along to the free half-day event on the afternoon of 11 July 2011. There will be an array of expert speakers from the Department of Health and the RCN to equip you with the skills to engage meaningfully with the EDS through your partnership working arrangements. Email diversity.team@rcn.org.uk to secure your place

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