At the System Leaders Forum on Tuesday 11 March Sir David Nicholson led the way in making his commitment to advancing equality and tackling health inequalities by signing a Statement of Declaration.

By signing the declaration he has pledged to champion change on bringing together the equality and health inequalities agenda and raise ambition at every level of the system to remove barriers to change.

As chair of the Equality and Diversity Council Sir David also asked all members of the Health and Care System Leaders Forum, representing the major health and care organisations, to personally sign the declaration.

Sir David Nicholson, CEO of NHS England and Chair of the Equality and Diversity Council, said: “The health and care system needs to place the promotion of equality and tackling of health inequalities at the heart of everything it does. By signing this statement, the members of the Health and Care System Leader’s Forum, representing some of the major health and care organisations, have shown their commitment to working together on this important agenda.”

Over the coming weeks, more health and care organisations will be asked to pledge their commitment to support the work of the council by signing the statement.

So far, nine organisations have signed the statement; NHS England, Monitor, NHS Trust Development Authority, NICE, Care Quality Commission, Health Education England, Health and Social Care Information Centre, Public Health England and the Department of Health.

This is the first time that the senior leaders from health and social care have personally committed to work together to promote equality and tackle health inequalities.