Trust Board Febuary 2010 - Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals

SWBTB (2/10) 045 (a)
Stage 1 – 4
The process commenced with a workshop for members of the Project Steering Group, facilitated by the
Sandwell PCT Head of Equality and Diversity, to identify:
• The intended beneficiaries of the 3 short listed maternity options.
• The benefits or outcomes each beneficiary should expect to receive from the 3 short listed
maternity options.
• The potential for any of the beneficiaries identified above, to receive differential outcomes or not
to receive the intended outcomes, in comparison to other groups resulting from differences
characterised by:
o Race
o Disability
o Gender and Gender identify
o Age
o Sexual Orientation
o Religion and Belief
o Social and Economic Deprivation
Information gathered from this stage of the equality impact assessment along with the progress and
findings to date are contained within a progress report which will be developed as further work is
completed and will culminate in a Full Equality Impact Assessment Report once all stages described
here are complete.
Some of the key outcomes of this stage of the EQIA process are presented below:
• The groups about which further information and evidence of potential impact is required:
Limited evidence was available about the impact of existing maternity services on Lesbian and
Transgendered women, new migrant communities and women that have experienced female
genital mutilation (FGM). The consultation plan was revised to include additional engagement
with the following groups: Somali women / FGM, BME women, Disabled groups, Travelling
Communities
• The equality impact assessment of the 3 selected proposed maternity service models identified a
number of benefits which included; overall improvement to services and birthing experience for
all women experiencing antenatal and intra partum care. Those women deemed to have high risk
pregnancies will benefit from improved access to senior clinicians and specialist services.
Women with low risk pregnancy would benefit from reduced levels of medical intervention,
increased choice and control in labour, resulting in “normalizing” of the birth experience.
• The equality option appraisal also revealed distinct benefits for the workforce; through the
possibility to extend the variety of experience within the service models likely to be attractive
across the age profile of the work force; thereby positively impacting on recruitment, retention
and succession planning.
• Conversely, the assessment process highlighted the potential disadvantageous or negative
impact on groups. An action plan for addressing these will be developed and implemented by
the Project Steering Group. This work is currently in progress.
The findings of the work above were fed into the consultation process to ensure engagement with the
various groups identified.
Evidence is currently being gathered to substantiate the decisions of the Project Steering Group and will
be included in the Full Equality Impact Assessment Report.
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