24 October 2020

Our responsibility and ability to deliver high quality patient care to such a diverse community is a privilege, that puts CNWL in a unique position of being able to develop innovative services that align to patient needs, and strive for the best patient outcomes.

This cannot be achieved without a reflective workforce, and research supports that the best patient outcomes can be attributed to highly engaged and satisfied staff. 

It is for that principal reason the Trust’s People Plan is so centred around our people, and optimising their experiences at work, particularly in terms of fair access, fair treatment, recognition of talent, and their health and wellbeing. 

It is fair to say that too many of our people are not wholly satisfied, and alongside other London Trusts we do not perform well enough to ensure our BAME staff share the same positive experiences of their White colleagues on consistent basis.  This is evident in some key areas in terms of; rate of appointment & career development opportunities, disciplinary processes and limited numbers in senior positions within the organisation (bands 8a to VSM) when compared to the proportion of BAME staff who live in and access our services in the communities we cover.

Therefore, in alignment to the NHS England’s recent launch of the London Race Strategy, we have recently agreed our local Race Priorities, elements of which will relate to working in collaboration with our Integrated Care Partners in NWL (regional Trusts based in NW London, but applying to our work in North Central London and Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes), to accelerate pace and to work across NHS systems to bring about change and reduce inequities sustainably.

Whilst we are in one of the most challenging periods globally for race relations, it has afforded us the opportunity to have honest and sometimes difficult conversations, to ultimately demonstrate our conviction to redress any related adverse trends that have been too prevalent in the NHS for too long!

Take a look at our progress table here. 

You can also view a visual graphic of our priorities for BAME staff here.