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Listen
Fair Enough?
Fair For All Progress Report:
Analysis of Race Equality Schemes and Fair For All Action Plans
Foreword
The vision of a culturally competent National Health Service which delivers its services and employment opportunities fairly amongst all of Scotland's citizens is central to the social justice agenda developed by the Scottish Executive since devolution. The achievement of such a service is not just a legal necessity - as set out in the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 - but also a measure of how we see ourselves and how we wish to be seen by others. This report sets out the steps that the NHS in Scotland has taken since launching the Fair For All initiative in 2000 and the challenges that lie ahead.
The Scottish Executive Health Department fully recognises the need to improve the health care of Scotland's minority ethnic communities. In response to this challenge it established the National Resource Centre for Ethnic Minority Health, which has been consolidating the planning process and there is now a written commitment and a carefully planned Action Plan by all NHS Boards and Trusts. I am pleased that the National Resource Centre for Ethnic Minority Health has established a supportive partnership with NHSScotland and the Commission for Racial Equality for Scotland. I look forward to this developing in the coming years.
The analysis undertaken for this report confirms that there has already been progress since the Fair For All stock take two years ago. Some NHS Boards and Trusts have responded with enthusiasm to the requirements that have been made of them whilst, regrettably, a few others have focused on this as more of a 'tick-box' exercise. The production of Race Equality Schemes and Action Plans has clearly helped many organisations and individuals to begin to understand the nature of institutional racism and so to develop a local consensus for cultural and organisational change. For many, it is a new area, and competence and confidence will develop over time. There is still the challenge of gaining ownership of this agenda at all levels of NHSScotland, as well as building the trust and confidence of communities by meeting the minority ethnic health agenda.
For the most part, NHS Boards and Trusts have committed themselves in their Schemes and Action Plans to ambitious programmes of change that will make a genuine difference to users of their services. There have been real changes in terms of behaviour and approaches to service provision. Some are grasping the issue for the first time, and now have solid plans for action with allocations of resources and targets set. Others are building on a substantial record of achievement in this field.
However, it is hardly surprising that there is a long way to go before we reach the high standards to which we aspire. The assessment framework, the analysis, recommendations and examples of practice and planning within this report can become the basis for substantive change in policy and practice. The challenge to the NHS in Scotland moving forward is to ensure that these recommendations are translated into action through clear procedures and practices since the real measure of success is what is delivered on the ground.
Within this report and its appendices there is much guidance to help practitioners in developing services and employment practices to reflect the cultural diversity of users and in making race equality in our health service a reality. As the principles of Fair For All and the Race Relations Amendment Act become embedded into mainstream practice, and integrated into the Performance Assessment Framework and Public Participation agenda, the report will provide a useful touchstone for future reference. "Partnership for Care" extended the principles of the Fair For All approach across the NHS to ensure that our health services recognise and respond sensitively to the individual needs, background and circumstances of people's lives. If this can be married to a genuine drive towards participation and ownership by communities, in identifying needs and planning interventions, there will indeed be a real basis for achieving change and evaluating progress.
The National Resource Centre for Ethnic Minority Health and the Commission for Racial Equality for Scotland share my view that this report can make a valuable contribution to the work of NHS Boards and Trusts in meeting the health needs of Scotland's minority ethnic communities more effectively. Both organisations are ready and willing to providing ongoing guidance and support as NHS Boards and Trusts turn their commitments into action that will achieve change on the ground.
Equality and diversity focuses on individual need and it is hoped that by implementing the Fair For All approach across the wider diversity agenda real and lasting changes can be made to the quality of care provided by NHSScotland. Rather than fearing differences, we should welcome diversity and the challenges that it poses us. For health professionals in particular, there is a need to develop skills as employers and culturally competent and sensitive providers of health care to everyone being served. I believe the Fair For All approach lends itself to ensuring that the desired changes become a reality.
This report identifies and celebrates progress but we must not become complacent; there is a long way to go but we have set off confidently in the right direction. I recognise the commitment and hard work that has been invested in delivering the principles of Fair For All and look forward to further progress and partnership in the future.
MALCOLM CHISHOLM
Minister for Health and Community Care
September 2003
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