Race equality review

The Healthcare Commission is committed to furthering equality, diversity and human rights, and reducing inequalities in health. This commitment is set out clearly in our strategic goals and organisational priorities.

We have evidence that the performance in NHS trusts on race equality needs to improve. We are therefore undertaking a review of race equality in NHS trusts in England. This review will form part of the 2007/2008 annual health check. 

The overall aim of the review is for the Healthcare Commission to promote improvement for NHS staff and service users – in particular black and minority ethnic groups – with regards to race equality.

 There are five key objectives:

• to review the performance of NHS trusts in how well they are consciously and systematically addressing the needs of their black and minority ethnic patients and staff, to ensure positive outcomes for staff and patients and robust systems and processes in place
• to review the performance of NHS trusts in meeting their obligations under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000
• to consult, involve and learn from the experiences of black and minority ethnic patients and staff in order to drive improvement
• to focus attention on NHS trusts that may be failing to address the needs of their black and minority ethnic staff and patients
• to publish the findings in a national report

The review is planned to run from May 2007 until May 2008. The early part of this period has been spent developing the review framework with key stakeholders, including patients and staff.

The review will be undertaken using the surveillance and response methodology, which is based on risk profiling trusts and then undertaking visits. It will focus on areas that are most important to staff and the public, under the following criteria: Governance and Information, Access, and Experience and Involvement.

A pilot in four NHS organisations covering the different types of trust is currently taking place.

Following the pilot we plan to visit about 60 trusts (15% of NHS trusts in England) as part of the assessment phase of the review, which will consist of trusts identified as likely poor performers as well as some of the best trusts. The visits are expected to take place between December 2007 and February 2008. Trusts will receive reports following the visits and we will publish a national report in summer 2008, highlighting findings and making recommendations for improvement.

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