NHS Devon’s trailblazing work to tackle health inequalities experienced by ethnically diverse communities in Devon has received national recognition, beating stiff competition from across the country to win the Health Equalities category in the national NHS parliamentary awards.
NHS Devon’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team were nominated by the MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, Luke Pollard and the MP for Totnes, Anthony Mangnall. The winning nominees were announced at an awards ceremony in Westminster yesterday (6 July).
Jane Milligan, Chief Executive of NHS Devon said: “I am absolutely delighted that NHS Devon has been recognised with this award. It highlights NHS Devon’s pioneering commitment to overcoming the barriers our patients and staff experience in accessing healthcare and in working for us.”
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Partner Amatey Doku said: “I am delighted that NHS Devon has been recognised for their work in health inequalities. It was such a privilege to have had an opportunity to work with the team at the beginning of their journey and I am pleased to see that the work has progressed and is now a core focus for the whole system, making a tangible impact to diverse communities and staff across Devon.”
Andrew Millward, Director of Communications, Involvement and Inclusion at NHS Devon said: “I am incredibly proud of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team. This award is testament to their sheer dedication and hard work but also to the many staff and volunteers who have supported our work to help everyone in Devon to live long, healthy, happy lives.”
NHS Parliamentary Award judge and Age UK Charity Director, Caroline Abrahams said: “The depth and breadth of the great work going on in the NHS, as revealed by the nominations for these awards, absolutely blew my socks off. After such a difficult two years this is a testament to the extraordinary contributions so many people are making day in, day out, to serve the public.”
NHS Devon’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team were recognised for their work commissioning a report into the experiences of health and care of ethnically diverse patients and staff. All recommendations from the report were accepted and are in the process of being implemented, leading to a huge shift in mindset across the health and care system.
Ethnically diverse communities and staff are now represented at board level and, community engagement and involvement is already making a difference to ethnically diverse communities. Confidence in the Covid-19 vaccination has been significantly improved through an outreach programme, which uses trusted community representatives as Vaccine Ambassadors, and resulted in over 50,000 from vulnerable communities (including LGBTQ+, Migrant workers, Gypsy Roma and Traveller communities and ethnically diverse groups), receiving their covid-19 vaccination.
Anthony Mangnall, MP for Totnes said: “I am delighted that NHS Devon’s Engagement team have been recognised at the national awards for their outstanding contribution to healthcare here in Devon. I was very pleased to be able to nominate the team and believe this is a great testament to their continued hard work and dedication.”
Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport said: “I’m proud to have nominated such an innovative and inspirational group for this award. The work being done here in Devon is trailblazing and I’m so glad the team has received national recognition. I hope it spurs them on to achieve even more and for other areas to follow their lead.”
Also shortlisted for the national awards were:
• The Excellence in Healthcare Award: Dr Mary Stocker, consultant anaesthetist at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, nominated by Anthony Mangnall MP
• The Covid-19 Response Award: Darryn Allcorn, Chief Nurse at NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, nominated by Geoffrey Cox MP
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