NHS South Yorkshire is working with local clinicians and partner organisations to establish a South Yorkshire Race Equality Network for Primary Care staff. The Network is open to all staff working across Primary Care including General Practice, Optometry, Pharmacy and Dentistry. It welcomes attendance from allies wanting to improve their understanding of the issues and challenges. The group will meet quarterly (usually on a weekday evening over MS Teams, with occasional in-person dates) offering an interesting programme of guest speakers.
The NHS People Plan recognises the vital importance of staff networks in creating a culture of belonging and helping to drive meaningful change to address racial discrimination and unacceptable behaviour, which is unfortunately still a reality for people delivering front-line services.
Gavin Boyle, Chief Executive Officer at NHS South Yorkshire said: “Sadly, racism remains a feature of our society and public institutions including the NHS reflect this too. In NHS South Yorkshire we are committed to prioritising active anti-racism both in terms of how we deliver our services but also as an employer. Our priorities are better understanding the experience of people from minoritized communities, being a stronger ally, and ensuring our own leadership is more inclusive. The South Yorkshire Primary Care Race Equality Network can help us do this. The Network will support front-line professionals, promote a culture of wellbeing, and provide a voice to help shape how we work in the future. I encourage all staff to share this opportunity and get involved.”
There are similar staff networks in NHS provider organisations, but to date, this has been a gap for staff working in Primary Care. This Network will provide staff with a safe space to discuss issues, share experiences and explore solutions. We hope this will provide insights and resources to help people to safely challenge discrimination and abuse, promoting wellbeing and safety.
We know that staff and patients benefit from a diverse workforce that reflects our local communities. The ICB Joint Forward Plan aims to reduce workforce inequalities, support inclusivity and improve staff experience, and this Network will provide a voice to inform senior decision-makers to improve experience and retention.
