Diversity and Inclusion

The core commitment of the NHS is to provide fair, accessible services for all. Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust is committed to actively recognising and promoting inclusion and diversity within our community. Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust believes that people who use our services, their carers and our staff should be treated with respect and dignity.

The Trust is committed to challenging discrimination in all its forms and ensuring that equality lies at the heart of everything we do. We want to be a fair and equitable organisation, one where everyone accepts difference between individuals and values the benefits that diversity brings. Ending discrimination is not simply about making hospital buildings accessible by putting in ramps or producing patient information documents in different formats, but about systematically identifying barriers and reducing inequalities.

What is Inclusion and Diversity all about?

Whether we are members of staff, patients, carers, service users, we all want to live in communities where we can all participate fully and equally. When we need to see a doctor, visit a hospital, or access other medical services, we all want this to be delivered in ways which help us to be included in society.

INCLUSION (EQUALITY) is about creating a fairer society where everyone can participate and has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. It is not about treating people the same, but recognising that everyone has different needs, which need to be met in different ways.

DIVERSITY is the many distinct characteristics that staff, patients, service users, carers bring to our Trust. Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust recognises and values difference within our communities and the workplace. We can learn from the differences of others and become more understanding.

As a public authority, the Trust has a legal requirement to promote equality and set out how we plan to meet the 'general and specific duties' specified in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010.

The Equality Act became law in October 2010. It replaces all previous legislation (such as the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995). It is there to strengthen protection, advance equality and simplify the law. The Act has a Public Sector Equality Duty which specific duties came into force on 10th September 2011. The Act now gives protection to groups of people who experience discrimination and have protection from this legislation. These are known as protected characteristics. It is unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of:

• Age
• Disability
• Ethnicity
• Sex
• Sexual Orientation
• Gender Re-assignment
• Religion and Belief
• Marriage and Civil Partnership
• Pregnancy and Maternity