Promoting equality outcomes 

As well as highlighting work that still needed to be done, the report The performance of the health sector in meeting the Public Sector Equality Duties, also highlighted 16 examples where good practice in the areas of employment, commissioning, service provision and engagement had contributed to improved health outcomes. These examples were assessed on the following grounds:

• that they demonstrated need using relevant data relating to employment, commissioning, health and/or other relevant inequalities
• that they involved consultation with and the inclusion of target groups and other stakeholders
• that they set clear priorities and objectives relating to equality outcomes.

Health services provision
The following practices were identified as promoting equality outcomes in healthcare provision:

• Truth about TB Campaign for members of the Pakistani community and health practitioners, NHS Peterborough.  Read more.
• Race for Health initiatives focusing on themes including infant mortality, coronary heart disease and stroke, diabetes, and mental illness, NHS Leeds. Read more.
• Community Dental Service for people unable to access general dental care, NHS Coventry. Read more.
• Transition Strategy Group for young people with learning disabilities transiting to adult services, NHS Peterborough. Read more.
• Supporting people with learning disabilities, NHS Leeds. Read more.
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Project for people with learning disabilities, NHS Leeds. Read more
• Pacesetters initiatives covering Gypsy and Traveller communities, breast screening for female prisoners, and palliative care services for faith communities, NHS East Midlands. Read more.
• Improving take up of breast screening by ethnic minority women aged 50 to 70 years, NHS Leeds. Read more.
• Adressing domestic violence, NHS Leeds. Read more at the Leeds Women's Aid website.
• HPV awareness raising amongst African Caribbean and Irish Traveller communities, NHS Leeds. Read more.
• Recognising the cultural context of health experiences, take up, and delivery, NHS Berkshire West. Read more.

Commissioning

The following example was identified as promoting equality outcomes in commissioning activities:

• Patient and public engagement in commissioning, NHS Leicester City. Read more.

Communication, engagement, and leadership

The following examples were identified as promoting equality outcomes through communication, engagement, and leadership:

• Health Equality Stakeholder Engagement (HESE) guide, NHS North West. Read more.
• Development of health services, NHS East Riding of Yorkshire. Read more.
• Equality group and user involvement, NHS Plymouth. Read more.
• Engagement with disability groups, NHS North East. Read more.

Cross functional services

The following examples were identified as promoting equality outcomes across functions:

• Equality Performance Improvement Toolkit (EPIT) – NHS North West
• Health Equality Library Portal (HELP), NHS North West. Read more.
• Equality Impact Assessment guidance, NHS Somerset. Read more.

Further information

• More details on all the above examples can be found in the report on the Equalities and Human Rights Commission website
• The EHRC has produced a supplementary report entitled 'The Public Sector Equality Duty: A Way Forward for the Health Sector'. This report contains suggestions for both national and local NHS organisations on how they can meet the new duties of the Equality Act 2010 and is a useful guide to accompany the newly launched Equality Delivery System.