Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation has achieved bronze level accreditation under the NHS’s Race Equity Assembly’s Anti-Racist Framework.
The accreditation, which is awarded by the NHS Race Equity Assembly (formerly the NHS North West Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Assembly), recognises the significant steps the Trust is making towards race equality and race equity for both patients and staff.
The NHS Race Equity Assembly supports NHS organisations to eliminate racism and create better healthcare by tackling and eradicating inequalities in access, outcomes and experience of care.
To achieve the bronze level certification, the Trust had to provide evidence of measurable, significant and sustainable step changes in tackling racism, discrimination and health inequalities.
This includes making anti-racism ‘mission critical’, setting goals that go beyond legal or NHS compliance, reducing a health inequality, communicating its zero-tolerance approach and providing evidence of successful working.
Anti-racist action
Areas of strength highlighted included the establishment of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) champions, clear Chief Executive accountability, Board and Executive Team members having an EDI objective, well-established EDI governance structures and staff network groups, and a strong organisational commitment and ambition to advancing anti-racism.
A reciprocal mentoring programme has also been running for four consecutive years alongside training on microaggressions, allyship and anti-racism and team development activities.
A targeted anti-racism and health inequalities pilot in partnership with Foundry Primary Care Network in Page Hall, a densely populated, multicultural inner-city suburb, also saw 58 out of 59 patients who had previously not attended hospital appointments successfully attend.
'Really proud' achievement
The Trust is also an active member of the Race Equality Partnership for Sheffield (REPS), established following the Race Equality Commission back in 2021, and is working in partnership with other key organisations to support the city to become anti-racist. The Trust is also part of the wider South Yorkshire Anti-Racism Assembly, which is a mechanism for collective progress on this important topic.
The accreditation programme has recently been opened up to NHS organisations outside of the North West region.
Kirsten Major, Chief Executive at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“We’re really proud to have achieved this recognition, which is a testament to the work we are doing to progress race equality and equity for both our patients and our staff. A particular thank you to our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee members, Staff Network and champions whose tireless work has contributed to this recognition. We know we have further work to do but remain committed to achieving this ambition.”