Last month at the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, we joined our LGBTQ+ community in celebrating Pride Month with our colleagues, patients, and the wider community.
We were proud to talk about our diverse and inclusive environment whilst at Cambridge Pride, where members of our wonderful equality, diversity and inclusion team met with the LGBTQ+ community, many of whom access and rely on our healthcare services to talk about what we currently do, and more importantly, how we can improve.
Pride serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing journey we are all on to create a society that embraces and celebrates every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and these events help us better understand how we can continue to adapt and improve our services to ensure outstanding care for all people, from all backgrounds.
In the NHS, one of our core values is that we treat people with respect and dignity – this includes both our patients and staff, which is why we value diversity and inclusion.
In addition to Pride, we also celebrated our Filipino staff during Philippines Independence Day, and were inspired by speeches from members of our Filipino colleagues, including newly elected Mayor of Stevenage Myla Arceno, who is also a qualified physiotherapist working at our Lister and New QEII Hospitals.
We ended June by celebrating and honouring the Windrush generation, whose significant contributions supported the establishment of our beloved National Health Service and, through workshops, cultural events, and open dialogues, continue to educate our staff members to foster an environment of understanding, empathy, and appreciation for the contributions of the Windrush generation.
Funded by our Hospitals Charity, these events are so much more than just awareness dates, they form the foundation of our NHS Trust and ensure our staff, patients and the local community feel included, acknowledged, and safe in our care.
Hospitals can be an anxious place, and nobody should feel nervous about visiting because of who they are – we are proud to serve and care for you without discrimination or prejudice.
As one of the largest employers in the county, allowing not just our staff, but our patients to be themselves is at the forefront of the care we provide.
If you have any concerns or questions when visiting one of our hospital sites, please speak to a member of staff with a rainbow lanyard – these people are allies of the LGBTQ+ community.
We may not always get it right, but we are committed to ensuring that we do. If you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community or have feedback where we can improve in any areas, please do let us know and together, we can create lasting change within our NHS Trust and beyond.
