NHS England and NHS Improvement has today welcomed the publication of updated risk assessment guidance which provides practical measures to advance the way risk assessments are carried out for BAME, at risk and other vulnerable staff groups working across the NHS. Risk assessments for staff, produced by NHS Employers, provides more detailed support to allow […]

NHS leaders have today thanked and commended Muslim staff and key healthcare workers for serving on the frontline and in supporting roles whilst fasting during the month of Ramadan. The Covid-19 crisis has required sacrifices from all NHS staff, but Muslims and other faith communities have met additional challenges working without sustenance during working hours. […]

As Muslims begin to prepare for the month of Ramadan, the NHS has issued a reminder to those who observe the Islamic holy month to avoid social gatherings because of the risk of coronavirus. Ramadan will be marked all over the world from Thursday 23 April with month-long fasting and observations of spiritual reflection set […]

NHS Chief Executive Sir Simon Stevens has today unveiled a new commitment to ensure that the health service’s ‘head office’ is representative of the wider workforce at all levels of seniority. Speaking at a meeting of NHS England and NHS Improvement’s black and minority ethnic (BME) staff network in Doncaster today, Sir Simon pledged actions […]

Every NHS trust in London now has at least one black and minority ethnic (BME) board member, according to new data published today. The latest assessment of race equality in the NHS – published to coincide with a major BMJ event on race and the NHS – shows a significant increase in representation of BME people at board […]

A national team working to ensure the NHS is a good place to work for people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds has been recognised for its actions and achievements over the last twelve months. NHS England and Improvement’s Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) team has been shortlisted for the ‘Workforce Initiative of the Year’ […]

England’s most senior NHS leaders have come together to recognise the work of staff leading the way in improving race equality across the health service. Chief executive Simon Stevens and NHS Improvement chair Dido Harding yesterday joined more than 30 NHS employees who have successfully completed a programme to become Race Equality Experts. The programme […]

Hundreds of thousands of NHS staff are set to join Pride celebrations across the country this weekend and throughout summer. Ahead of London Pride today (Saturday) the NHS has confirmed that more than 200 hospitals are launching dedicated schemes that support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) communities. As many as 150,000 doctors, nurses, cleaners, […]

The common belief that lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) women are not at risk of cervical cancer is fake news that has created a dangerous screening gap, the NHS has warned today. Up to 50,000 lesbian, gay and bisexual women have never been for a cervical cancer screening test because they wrongly think they are […]

England’s top nurse today pledged to ensure the voices of nurses and midwives will be valued and heard across the NHS. During her maiden speech at the chief nursing officer (CNO) Summit in Birmingham, Ruth May said that the profession, while often considered by the public to be the most trusted, is too often undervalued […]