Report comment

The ‘inclusion’ agenda never fails to spark emotive and sometimes polarised views. But one thing that is consistent when it is raised is the surprising lack of understanding by most commentators, of the rationale and distinction between positive discrimination and positive action. This is why the NHS needs to continue to focus and strive to embed, a long term strategic approach, towards a more inclusive leadership. Why, I hear you ask? Should it not be based on the most talented rising? , and why do we need these ‘programmes’? Well, the facts are clear. Positive action – not discrimination - has significantly contributed to the increased representation of women across most clinical fields and management to a more respectable level not just across the NHS, but across the UK’s private and wider public sectors too. But stubbornly, across the other ‘strands’ for example, ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation the progress has been woeful.

The National Leadership Council has rightly identified the need to develop and implement inclusive leadership strategies for the current and next generation of NHS leaders. And about time too!
How can we seriously expect to lead and deliver on the financially challenging, ambitious and intricate healthcare needs of an increasingly diverse UK population, without aiming to try and reflect the communities that we serve? We simply have no choice but to select the best talent from the widest possible ‘pool’ available, for arguably the most complex and sensitive service a nation can provide to its citizens (if you doubt this, just note the scale of reaction to President Obama’s healthcare proposals in the US!).

In short, I believe this means our recognising the benefits of having sustainable inclusion programmes that support the identification and development of our best talent, addresses under representation head on and, continue to think creatively, proactively and most importantly, strategically, about this in the future.

Roy Ebanks
Regional Inclusion Coordinator

Breaking Through Programme

Via email