Equality, diversity and inclusion

Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) believes in fairness, equality and above all values diversity in all aspects of its work.

We recognise that to deliver good equality practice and to provide equal opportunity for everyone, equality and diversity must be embedded within our day to day running of the trust as a whole. Making sure that this is at the heart of our organisation is essential to enable us to successfully fulfil our role and duties to the patients we treat, and as an employer.

It is important that we ensure the needs of patients or service users, visitors and staff are met when designing and delivering our services irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.

The trust is committed to building a valued workforce which reflects the wide diversity of the community it serves, enabling it to deliver the best possible health services to the community.

We have a clear commitment to develop and promote a culture within the trust, which is diverse, where individual differences are valued and respected and to further develop a workforce which reflects the community we serve.

The trust also aims to ensure that it employs and develops a healthcare workforce that is diverse, non-discriminatory and appropriate to deliver modern healthcare. Valuing the differences of each team member is a fundamental component of the trust. It enables its staff to create respectful work environments, build enthusiastic teams, and better understand patients or service users’ changing needs.

It is the responsibility of each and every one of us as members of the public, service users or staff to proactively promote equality and value diversity. It is everyone’s responsibility to eliminate discrimination and to work to ensure the people of Rotherham, Doncaster and North Lincolnshire receive the very highest standard of service.

In this way the trust is able to deliver quality care and services while giving service users the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Equality is not about treating everyone the same; it is about ensuring that access to opportunities are available to all by taking account of people’s differing needs and capabilities.

Diversity is about recognising and valuing differences through inclusion, regardless of:

• age
• disability
• gender
• racial origin
• religion
• belief
• sexual orientation
• commitments outside of work
• part-time or shift work
• language
• union activity
• HIV status
• perspectives
• opinions
• person value

For any enquiries relating to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) please contact a member of the EDI or Improvement and Culture team:

• Telephone: 01302 796473 or 01302 796187
• Email: rdash.equalityanddiversity@nhs.net

Page last reviewed: January 19, 2024
Next review due: January 19, 2025