Diversity isn’t a box to check, it is a strength to build upon which makes us better.
The way that we develop and adopt innovation and technology must also be based around our core mission to serve all our population. It is critical that the transformation of our health service reduces and not widens health inequalities.
To this end, the AHSN Network has made three diversity pledges:
Pledge 1: Our organisation
Equality diversity and inclusion (EDI) is fundamental to our core values, ensuring a positive and supportive culture, where all staff and communities feel empowered and respected.
- We will set annual EDI objectives which enhance our organisation’s performance, report to our boards and transparently publish our progress.
- We will champion best practice EDI and establish processes to address challenges and opportunities.
- We will embed EDI in our programmes and influence stakeholders and suppliers ensuring EDI is embedded in implementation, procurement and commissioning decisions.
Pledge 2: Our staff
Empowering and supporting our staff to be positive role models for EDI is essential to reach our collective ambition.
- Strive to create organisations that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve at all levels.
- We will encourage our staff to be active allies and positively challenge when they see discrimination, non-inclusive behaviour or a lack of diversity.
- We will support our staff with ongoing EDI training and activities to foster an inclusive culture.
Pledge 3: Our work
Our work aims to benefit all communities and reduce health inequalities, supporting Core20PLUS5 and other equality initiatives.
- We will carry out Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessments on national and key local projects.
- We will involve diverse and underserved communities and co-produce innovations that are relevant, accessible and work to reduce health inequalities.
- We will promote diverse role models, challenge stereotypes and champion the positive impact of diversity on innovation in our communications.
Read the AHSN report ‘Diversity and innovation – a celebration of BAME innovators and our pledges to do more’ which shares the stories of innovators from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds and sets out pledges by the AHSN Network to further support the diversity and innovation agenda.
Access the report here.
Read the ‘Diversity and innovation progress and learning report – reflecting on and continuing our mission’ here.
We spoke to Dr Jason Mellad, CEO and co-founder of Start Codon, about why businesses should be embracing input from people with different backgrounds to produce better ideas and outcomes.
Why diversity in innovation matters – Richard Stubbs
We will not succeed in addressing health inequalities without diverse innovators… who can develop and support solutions that enable the inclusion of all members of our society.