Barts Health Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment Report

www.brap.org.ukquality of provision and patient experience is increased across the whole care pathway forall. This approach also helps to respond to the needs of vulnerable/excluded groups notcovered by equality law (such as homeless people).This type of approach can be used to develop ‘patient promises’ or a ‘patient charter’ thatpatients and staff have had a chance to influence (either at a care pathway level or at awider Trust level). It can be used by patients to hold the Trust to account if staff are behavingin a way that is below agreed quality benchmarks. It can also be used to identify the types ofexpectations placed upon patients themselves as they engage with the system (e.g. patientsagreeing that when they use Trust services they will communicate any concerns they havewith staff).Clearly this would not be a substitute for focused work to address inequalities in patientexperience. Yet, a rights-based approach to addressing patient inequality has the potentialto reap significant benefits and put Barts Health ‘ahead of the game’ with regards to anyfuture government equality strategy.4.3 Developing equality objectivesThe Trust will need to develop equality objectives to meet its obligations under the EqualityAct 2010. A significant amount of data is already available to support the Trust to identifysome of its key objectives around staff and service provision. The task for the Trust is toagree which of those inequalities it is best placed to do something about, and devise anapproach and priorities that are ‘proportionate’ and ‘reasonable’. A proportionate objectivewill be one where the Trust can make a strong argument for why it has chosen a particularobjective and that it has considered all less-discriminatory alternatives to any decision made.It will rarely be possible to respond to all issues of inequality – and all issues raised by localgroups. It is important to demonstrate why particular objectives are being chosen and whythey are most likely to have the largest impact on those most in need of support. A‘reasonable’ objective will be one where the decision has considered the relative cost andanticipated impact of interventions to address inequality.The proceeding Equality Analysis (and, indeed, these conclusions and recommendations)will hopefully help the Trust consider what the content of those equality objectives should be.The best equality objectives will be decided in part by an organisation’s executive team andboard members. Their endorsement is crucial to people taking the objectives seriously. Itshould also be developed in partnership with local people, local public agencies, and VCOs.This should be considered as a core component of a range of Trust work-streams (e.g.,organisation development, clinical and patient experience strategy). For more support indeveloping Equality Objectives see www.brap.org.uk/index.php/resources-publications-342/equality-act-publications-567.212