Health secretary calls to scrap equality, diversity and inclusion
Steve Barclay has written to NHS chairs telling them to cease recruitment for specialist roles.
In a letter of 19 October, health secretary Steve Barclay wrote to chairs of integrated care boards in England. In it he calls for them to scrap recruitment for specialist support around equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Barclay claims without evidence that these initiatives are not “value for money”.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said:
“Steve Barclay is playing petty politics. The NHS and their providers, under the Public Sector Equality Duty, have a legal requirement to address issues around EDI. These specialist roles are vital to tackle inequalities and discrimination in our health care system and wider society. Barclay will be aware that his own government commissioned review determined that EDI roles are essential in all levels of the health service.
"There is no division between so called front line and back officer workers, the majority of whom are trade union members, committed to improving equality for patients and staff."
ends