The NHS workforce is more diverse than at any other point in its history, according to an annual report into race equality across the health service. Published today, the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard shows Black and minority ethnic (BME) staff make up almost a quarter of the workforce overall (24.2% or 383,706 staff) – […]

Tomorrow on World Sickle Cell Day, NHS England will launch a brand new campaign to boost public awareness of the genetic disorder which affects thousands across the UK. The campaign, dubbed ‘Can you tell it’s sickle cell?’, is aimed at increasing awareness of the key signs and symptoms of sickle cell disorder – which disproportionately […]

The number of disabled staff in senior roles in England’s health service has more than doubled over the past three years, helping the NHS better meet the needs of patients. The NHS Workforce Disability Equality Standard report for 2021, published today – during Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Week – shows the proportion of disabled […]

The NHS COIVD vaccination programme has protected more than 700,000 people from ethnic minority backgrounds since rolling out the grab-a-jab campaign. An analysis of one grab-a-jab weekend in July found that 2 in 5 of the 80,000 walk-in doses administered were to people from ethnic minority groups, significantly more than the proportion in the wider […]

A first of its kind report looking into race equality among England’s doctors has found that the number from black and ethnic minority backgrounds working for the NHS is the highest on record. New data published as part of the inaugural Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard (MWRES) commissioned by NHS Chief Executive, Simon Stevens shows […]

A longstanding health leader and advocate on inequalities has been chosen to head up the health service’s major new work programme into the impact of race and ethnicity on people’s health, NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens has announced today at NHS England and NHS Improvement’s public board meeting. Following open advertisement, Marie Gabriel CBE […]

The NHS is rolling out additional support for pregnant Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) women, as new research shows heightened risks facing women from minority groups. Analysis out today shows Black pregnant women are eight times more likely to be admitted to hospital with COVID-19, while Asian women are four times as likely. Urgent […]

NHS colleagues from across the country are being invited to enjoy an unprecedented online celebration of the LGBT+ community this Friday evening. To mark the time of year when thousands of people would ordinarily be gearing up for Pride season, the highlight of the LGBT+ calendar, NHS England is hosting its first-ever ‘Virtual Pride’ to […]

The head of the NHS in England Sir Simon Stevens has marked Windrush Day 2020 by committing the NHS to drive further improvements in race equality across the health service. On the 72nd anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush, carrying migrants from the Caribbean to England, the NHS is marking the contribution of […]

The following is a personal message from NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens, shared internally yesterday with all NHS England and NHS Improvement staff. Dear colleague, For the first time in many weeks something other than the coronavirus pandemic has dominated the news: Black Lives Matter. But these two moments are not disconnected. It is increasingly […]