WHAT DOES EQUALITY MEAN FOR ME? Equality in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County

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1 WHAT DOES EQUALITY MEAN FOR ME? Equality in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County

2 WHAT DOES EQUALITY MEAN FOR ME? Equality in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire New Regulations take effect New regulations came into force in September 2011 requiring all public bodies, including NHS organisations, to publish information on steps they are taking to comply with the equality duty under the 2010 Equality Act. The equality duty requires public bodies to prevent unlawful discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people from different backgrounds and social groups with the following nine protected characteristics : Age Disability Gender reassignment Marriage and civil partnership Pregnancy and maternity Race Religion and belief Sex (Gender) Sexual orientation To make this a reality, NHS trade unions and NHS Employers consulted with more than 3,000 patients, carers and people who work in the NHS and voluntary sector to develop a framework to help organisations to deliver these requirements. This is called the Equality Delivery System (EDS) and it was launched on 11 November 2011 by Sir David Nicholson, NHS Chief Executive and Chair of the NHS Equality and Diversity Council. So what are we doing locally in Nottinghamshire? NHS Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County are committed to promoting equality, valuing diversity and combating unfair treatment. We have made equality and diversity one of our top priorities for both our patients and our staff. We will work with GPs and clinicians, NHS staff and most importantly you our communities and patients Our Single Equality and Diversity Strategy To ensure that we deliver on these priorities and do what we say we are going to do, we have developed a strategy to guarantee that we continue to provide quality services and employment for all. We have called this the Single Equality and Diversity Strategy (SEDs) and it incorporates the Equality Delivery System (EDS). Visit We will work with GPs and clinicians, NHS staff and most importantly you our communities and patients to consult and engage to ensure we improve NHS services wherever you live and whenever you need them. So what does this mean for me? The EDS will ensure, everyone patients, public and staff have a voice in how organisations are performing and where they should improve in relation to healthy living and working lives. It will assist NHS organisations to ensure that there is no discrimination against people with the nine protected characteristics. Because every NHS organisation in England is using the EDS, it means that wherever you go for NHS services you will find organisations working to the same set of 18 outcomes around equality and human rights which are grouped into four goals. These are: Better health outcomes for all Improved patient access and experience Empowered, engaged and included staff Inclusive leadership at all levels So what does this mean and how will it be achieved? Following the Government White Paper Liberating the NHS, primary care services in Nottinghamshire County and Nottingham City split into six Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) which cover the whole of Nottinghamshire including Nottingham City. Each CCG is led by a Governing Body including GPs, clinicians, and lay representatives, who have a local focus and understand the priorities of patients and the local community.

3 CLINICAL COMMISSIONING GROUPS IN SHIRE MANSFIELD & ASHFIELD Population 182,666 All six CCGs have highlighted equality priorities and objectives which they will develop and shape further NEWARK & SHERWOOD Population 127,000 MANSFIELD & ASHFIELD NEWARK & SHERWOOD All six CCGs have highlighted equality priorities and objectives which they will develop and shape further. They will be required to publish these under the public sector equality duty. NORTH & EAST Population 143,297 Annually, every CCG will assess the needs of their population. In this assessment they will evaluate the people with protected characteristics within their area and the local health needs. WEST NORTH & EAST WEST Population 94,407 For you this means your local community has been assessed by local healthcare commissioners who plan and pay for services and the local health requirements and gaps in provision have been identified. This will form the basis of the plans to ensure the health services provided are appropriate and will reduce health inequalities while promoting equality and inclusion. CITY RUSHCLIFFE PRINCIPIA CITY Population 336,921 RUSHCLIFFE PRINCIPIA (Including Kegworth) Population 121,397 What does this mean for my local area? To make the EDS and SEDs work properly it is extremely important that we not only speak to the whole community in Nottinghamshire (you), but also that we get you involved in the process. There will be opportunities for local communities to help us direct what we do around equality and diversity. This could mean you being involved in rating how well we are performing. However it could also mean that you help us to develop our services to ensure that they meet the needs of all protected characteristics.

4 CONTACT US If you would like to get in touch with someone to become involved or to find out more, please contact: Kate Davies - Executive Lead for Equalities Tracy Bircumshaw - PA to the Cluster Medical Director & Executive Lead for Equalities Kate.Davies2@nottspct.nhs.uk Tracy.Bircumshaw@nottspct.nhs.uk Rating us Using the EDS and SEDS, we, as local commissioners, will review how the services we plan and pay for on behalf of our community are performing against equality criteria. To do this we will ask you to grade us in order to highlight areas of weakness to identify the priority areas we need to focus on. Four grades are available: Undeveloped - Red Developing - Amber Achieving - Green Excelling - Purple From this, we will jointly develop equality objectives and action plans with you to tackle inequalities in order to improve things and meet the equality agenda. The aim is for the action plans to deliver improved equality performance and ensure that the things that matter the most to our service users, patients, carers, the local community and staff in terms of equality will be part of our core business. The grades and objectives will be published annually and also shared with local communities, and updated each year. How can I get involved? You can do as little or as much as you want, but some of the things we need help with are: Being involved in community events to feedback what you think we should be doing better and what is working well. Getting involved on community panels and equality engagement groups, where you will use your knowledge to advise the NHS in Nottinghamshire on how it can be responsive to the needs of local communities. Become an EDS champion help us take this work into the centre of communities and be trained up to deliver talks or workshops to all different groups of people. Just talk to us if you have an idea or solution to a problem why not tell us, we might be able to use it! Website: / Send a letter: Medical Directorate NHS Nottinghamshire County Birch House Ransom Wood Business Park Southwell Road West Mansfield NG21 0HJ Telephone: Your Clinical Commissioning Group Equality Contact: Newark & Sherwood Zoe.Butler@nottspct.nhs.uk NHS Nottingham City Lucy.Branson@nottinghamcity.nhs.uk Nottingham West Helen.Cawthorne@nottspct.nhs.uk Racheal.Patterson@nottspct.nhs.uk Nottingham North and East Rachael.Rees@nottspct.nhs.uk Principia Rushcliffe Lynne.Sharp@nottspct.nhs.uk Helen.Limb@nottspct.nhs.uk Mansfield & Ashfield Julie.Andrews@nottspct.nhs.uk

5 This information is available in a variety of languages and formats. Please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service ( by either calling or pals@nottspct.nhs.uk ).