NHS Workforce Disability Equality Standard

The NHS Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) is an essential tool in supporting the NHS to be an inclusive and fair workplace. It helps evaluate progress and identify areas where further improvement is needed.

Implementing the WDES is a requirement for NHS commissioners and NHS healthcare providers through the NHS standard contract.

The WDES was introduced in 2019 and is built around 10 evidence-based measures (metrics) which enable NHS organisations to compare the workplace and career experiences of disabled and non-disabled staff.

Using these metrics, NHS organisations are able to develop data-driven action plans that support improvement in recruitment, retention, development and workforce experience.

The WDES also helps to shape inclusive practices, embed accountability and deliver measurable progress in disability equality.

Why the WDES is important

Research and staff feedback shows that a motivated, included and valued workforce helps to deliver high quality patient care, increased patient satisfaction and improved patient safety.

The WDES provides local NHS organisations with robust data to inform action, challenge bias and support disabled staff to thrive at work. Building inclusive environments benefits individuals, teams and patients alike.

The NHS EDI Improvement Plan was published in June 2023, setting out 6 focused, high-impact actions that aim to  improve equality, diversity and inclusion, and to enhance the sense of belonging for NHS staff to improve their experience.

2024 WDES report

We recommend that the findings of this report are used to support local and system-level improvements.

Previous WDES annual reports

Resources, guidance and related reports

Contact us

If you have questions about the WDES programme or reporting, please contact the national team via email at england.MandatedStandards@nhs.net.