Equality, diversity and inclusion

This is a report by Healthwatch Bradford, Healthwatch Calderdale, Healthwatch Kirklees, Healthwatch Leeds, and Healthwatch Wakefield. In this report the Healthwatch worked as part of their role within the West Yorkshire Voice grouping, which brings patient experience into service planning and delivery.

West Yorkshire Voice was asked to lead several focus groups to help West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (WY ICB) develop its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy. West Yorkshire Voice invited people to share their feedback and ideas about what should be included in the new 
strategy for health and care services across the region. 

The focus groups were planned alongside other surveys and events led by the WY ICB: a ‘Stakeholder Day’ and two online surveys, one for the public and one for professionals. West Yorkshire Voice spoke to 46 people about their understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion, what they thought was working well, what wasn’t and any suggestions they had for improvement.

Within the report there are summaries of findings and details as to what works well and what does not work as well, under each of the three headings of diversity, equality and inclusion.

Key findings

• Accessible Communication: Clear communication adapted to people’s needs is vital to them having equal access and benefit from health and care services.
• Accessible, person centred and holistic care: It is important for people that professionals understand them as a ‘whole person’rather than their symptoms or diagnosis.
• Design and adapting services in line with community need: There is often a disconnect between 
  what professionals think people need and what they actually need.
• Diversity in workforce and leadership: People benefit from seeing and speaking to people like them in health and care services and would like to see diversity in leadership roles.
• Make services welcoming: People want to be able to go into a service without fear of judgement and feel safe.
• Compassionate and culturally competent care: It is important to people that services are culturally 
  sensitive, and that staff understand their background and culture.
• Early Intervention and preventative care: Lack of early intervention can make things worse for people and exacerbate health inequalities. 

There are follow up actions in this report. These focus on the need to continue to engage with diverse groups.