Leading light in NHS race equality and nursing inspires mental health staff
Yvonne Coghill CBE, a leading light in NHS race equality and nursing, was the keynote speaker at a Black History Month event held by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT).
The conference was the highlight of a month in which the Trust celebrated its staff from black and minority ethnic (also known as ‘global majority’) and international backgrounds, who make up more than 1 in 10 of the workforce and play a vital role in mental health care across Norfolk and Suffolk.
Caroline Donovan, CEO, said: “It is vital that we take every opportunity to reduce race inequality across our Trust. While we have made some progress, we have much more to do to reduce disparity of experience of our white and global majority staff.
“We need to learn from, and educate others about, the diverse experiences of our staff from black and minority ethnic backgrounds to enable the Trust to celebrate diversity and become a truly inclusive organisation.”
The event at Kesgrave, Ipswich, last week heard moving personal stories, poetry and inspiring and motivating speeches as well as clear commitment from the CEO to take action. Yvonne Coghill has been commissioned by the Trust to review race equality and will be recommending to the Trust board how improvements can be made.
Yvonne, who was Director of Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) Implementation in NHS England and Deputy President of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), spoke passionately about the impact that racism can have on us all and the importance of tackling racism to improve care.
“There is irrefutable evidence globally that people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds who live in white majority countries have poorer life chances and experiences compared to their white counterparts,” she said.
She explained how race equality improves care, patient satisfaction and patient safety, and encourages staff engagement and retention, improving efficiency and saving the NHS money. Yvonne also stressed the importance of allies in helping to address inequalities.
Jason Hollidge, Chief Finance Officer and the Executive Sponsor for NSFT’s Race Equality and Cultural Heritage (REACH) Staff Network, which organised the event, spoke about the importance and benefits of being an ally.
Harprit Hockley, NSFT’s Director of Culture and Organisational Development, gave a personal account of her career journey, the challenges she faced and how she overcame them.
She shared her passion for helping people develop their skills and talents, and talked about the value of mentors and the key role that managers play in supporting staff to fulfil their potential.
Jenny Carlisle, a Governor at the Trust, talked about the importance of understanding and addressing the complex realities of society to better advocate for justice and equality, and committing to a future where all voices are recognised and valued.
Attendees also heard about the issues faced by black men in particular when it came to accessing mental health care and the importance of providing cultural safety, plus the positive impact of international recruitment on services and service users.
Finally, the conference heard about the Trust’s successful anti-racism ‘lunch and learn’ events and staff were encouraged to ‘Pledge to Make a Difference’.