The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn (QEH) is delighted to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BAPIO (British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin).
QEH hosted an important conference on Thursday, 5 May, at King’s Lynn’s Town Hall in collaboration with BAPIO, to discuss and debate the issues related to dignity at work and highlight the actions which need to be taken.
Over 100 delegates joined to listen and learn from guest speakers which included, Dr Habib Naqvi MBE, CEO at NHS Race and Health Observatory, and Professor Mala Rao, Director at MWRES (Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard).
The conference concluded with the MOU signing ceremony which showcased the Trust’s strengthened commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion at QEH, as well as developing working relationships that will assist in the early resolution of issues of concern regarding individual members of BAPIO in particular and ethnic minority staff members.
BAPIO has been already working on these issues for many years and the signing of a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the hospital is particularly timely as we come together to support staff and consider how we recover following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Caroline Shaw CBE, Chief Executive at QEH, said: “The signing of the MOU is a really important step in our commitment to supporting our ethnic minority colleagues and working with BAPIO to promote equality, diversity and inclusion across the Trust.”
Chelsea Kirk, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead at QEH, added: ”27% of our workforce is made up of minority ethnic colleagues, and by undertaking this joint work we can strengthen the support we provide to them, particularly following what has been such a difficult time for them as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Dr Ramesh Mehta OBE, President at BAPIO, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with QEH to support the excellent work being done on the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda. QEH has a large number of ethnic minority staff providing excellent patient care.
“BAPIO will be happy to provide pastoral care and well-being support for them and will also assist the Trust in ethical recruitment and retention of staff.”
Yesterday’s event concluded with an evening of dinner and entertainment to celebrate the important milestone for the Trust and BAPIO and their joint ambitions and partnership moving forward.
–ENDS–
For more information, please contact communicationsQEH@qehkl.nhs.uk or call 01553 613216.
To download the press release, click here.
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