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Equality and diversity
Equality and Diversity Annual Report
The Equality and Diversity Annual Report 2011/12 for Brighton and Hove can be found on the NHS Sussex website here.
NHS Brighton and Hove Single Equality and Human Rights Scheme 2010-13
NHS Brighton and Hove is committed to promoting equality, diversity and human rights, and tackling discrimination against the many and diverse communities in our city.
Out intention is always to provide:
- excellent healthcare, equal at the point of access
- excellent opportunities for staff and potential staff.
In order to ensure we are doing just this, NHS Brighton and Hove have created and published the Single Equality and Human Rights Scheme 2010-13.
This scheme contains a robust action plan:
- created through consultation with service users and the public, staff and patients
- monitored by local stakeholders and endorsed and supported by our Board.
This scheme builds on progress already made in our Race, Gender and Disability Schemes and extends our commitments to include the new protected characteristics as outlined in the Equality Bill 2009:
age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; race; religion or belief; sexual orientation: pregnancy and maternity. The scheme addresses equality for carers and those facing socio-economic disadvantage.
This scheme will be monitored, reviewed and refreshed with our stakeholders and partners. It will always be a live document, and as such the views of individuals and organisations are always welcomed to ensure our continual development and progress.
- Single equality and human rights scheme 2010-13 (760kb pdf)
If you would like to know more about the NHS Brighton and Hove Single Equality and Human Rights Scheme 2010-13, or to be involved groups or activities to support the Trust to deliver on this scheme, please contact:
Phil Seddon
NHS Brighton and Hove Equality and Diversity manager
Equality Impact Assessments
We want the services we buy, and the way we work, to reflect the diverse needs of the communities we serve.
We conduct an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) on our policies, procedures and services to help us understand the impact they could have on people because of their age, disability, ethnicity, gender, faith or sexuality.
The assessments are carried out with people from the groups most likely to be affected by a particular policy or practice including clinical staff such as doctors and nurses, other NHS staff, service users and members of the public.
All new policies need to be assessed before being approved.
- All policies will be re-assessed every three years;
- policies which could have significant local impact will be reviewed annually.
If you would like to be involved in future assessments, or have any comments or questions, please email Phil Seddon, equality and diversity manager phil.seddon@bhcpct.nhs.uk or phone 01273 574650 .
Spoken language interpreters
We use Sussex Interpreting Services and South East Interpreting and Translations Services Ltd to help staff communicate with patients who speak other languages or where cultural differences might hinder understanding.
They can provide interpreters for a wide range of different languages and will recruit new ones if necessary.
If you need an interpreter for a GP or hospital appointment, please inform the surgery or hospital clinics as soon as you get your appointment date and ask them to arrange this for you.
British Sign Language interpreting
British Sign Language interpreters are available free of charge to patients who need them for a GP or hospital appointment.
If you need one, tell the surgery or hospital clinic as soon as you get your appointment date and ask them to arrange this for you.
The company we use, Neal Communication Agency, who can also provide lip-speakers, speech-to-text reporters and palantypists, and deaf-blind interpreters.
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