Responding to NHS Confederation’s survey on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion roles being key to improving the NHS in England, Professor Pat Cullen, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, said:
“Nursing staff agree with NHS leaders that Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is vital to improving both the culture of the NHS and patient care. Ministers on a culture war crusade have no business lecturing NHS staff on what their services need.
“The health service has a long way to go in overcoming discrimination faced by both patients and staff. Discrimination and inequality in the NHS are systemic: they perpetuate worse health care outcomes for patients, push valuable staff out of the NHS, and cost the health service billions of pounds annually. Our members who experience racism know what it looks like, even if ministers don't.
“Investing in EDI is investing in health and care – it is not one or the other. It is vital that NHS leaders do all they can to protect EDI funding – especially as it comes under political attack.”
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