NHS Gloucestershire CCG is committed to upholding the NHS Constitution and, specifically in relation to equality, diversity and human rights, the principle which requires us to provide “a comprehensive service, available to all irrespective of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity or marital or civil partnership status”.
We recognise that Gloucestershire has a diverse population and that individuals may have multiple identities which can cut across more than one protected characteristic; e.g. we all have an age and a racial identity. Some of our characteristics may change over the course of our lives, e.g. we may acquire a disability, some of us may change our religion.
We want to understand the needs of our diverse community and strive to treat everyone as an individual, with dignity and respect, in accordance with their human rights.
To help us understand “what matters to you”, we undertake a significant amount of local engagement across the county. Working in partnership with voluntary sector and community groups and organisations across One Gloucestershire (our Integrated Care System) we aim to provide a range of opportunities for people to get involved and influence local health care services. To find out more about our engagement work and how we can support you to get involved, click here.
The Goals and Outcomes of EDS2
The Equality Delivery System (EDS) for the NHS was introduced in 2011 and following an evaluation of its implementation, EDS2 was published in 2013.
The main purpose of EDS2 is to help local NHS organisations, in discussion with local partners and communities, review and improve their performance for people with characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010. By using the EDS2, we ensure that we deliver on the Public Sector Equality Duty 2011.
This section focuses on the first two domains of EDS2: Better Health Outcomes and Improved patient access and experience, drawing on examples and case studies from our engagement with the people of Gloucestershire. Our work on Engagement, Equality and Experience are closely linked and activity to support this is reported annually to our Governing Body. More information is available here.
Better Health Outcomes
1.1 Services are commissioned, procured, designed and delivered to meet the health needs of local communities
Through engagement and the analysis of patient experience data, we ensure that services are developed to meet the needs of our local communities. Our most recent engagement activities are reported in the You Said, We Did section. These activities include examples of work that are designed to ensure we reach all areas of Gloucestershire and that we hear from our diverse communities including those with specific protected characteristics.
1.2 Individual people’s health needs are assessed and met in appropriate and effective ways
As a commissioning organisation, we work closely with our local providers to ensure we commission services that are personalised and meet individuals’ needs. Our work on Personalised Care Programmes is a great example of how we have engaged Experts by Experience to help develop the offer for personal health budgets.
1.3 Transitions from one service to another, for people on care pathways, are made smoothly with everyone well-informed
Moving between services can be a difficult time, particularly when moving from Children to Adult Services. In October 2019 NHS Gloucestershire CCG was successful in securing Wave 1 of Transformation Funding for Community Mental Health Services for 0-25 Year olds. As part of this programme we want to ensure that we provide good quality support for young adults as they transition between services. We are about to begin local conversations to support this work. If you are interested in getting involved drop us a line.
1.4 When people use NHS services their safety is prioritised and they are free from mistakes, mistreatment and abuse
Clinical Quality Review Groups (CQRGs) are a formal method of quality assurance used by the CCG for all providers. The agenda follows the CQC key lines of enquiry and enables key members of staff from both the commissioner and provider to monitor, meet and discuss issues relating to the quality of service, including patient safety. CQRGs minutes are reported to Quality and Governance Committee through Quality Reports. You can find out more about CQRGs and how we use patient experience information here.
1.5 Screening, vaccination and other health promotion services reach and benefit all local communities
Public Health is an integral part of One Gloucestershire, our Integrated Care System. We work closely with the team to ensure that our commissioning support health promotion services. We recently worked with Gloucestershire Maternity Voices to promote the flu vaccination to pregnant women – take a look at their short film.
Improved patient access and experience
2.1 People, carers and communities can readily access hospital, community health or primary care services and should not be denied access on unreasonable grounds
The CCG requires all our health care providers to participate in the national survey programme e.g. National Cancer Patient Survey. Survey results, which include responses regarding access to services, and subsequent action plans are discussed with providers and monitored through provider Clinical Quality Review Groups.
We recently reviewed the latest National GP Patient Survey (GPPS) with our Patient Participation Group Network, encouraging practice PPGs to review their practice results and work out an action plan with staff to address any issues. You can see the latest results for your own surgery here.
The Insight & Feedback Team from NHS England and NHS Improvement visited the Gloucestershire Patient Participation Group Network to demonstrate the new GPPS Analytical Tool and to get live feedback from PPG members.
The network has been a great way for the CCG to engage PPGs in using survey data. PPGs took away an increased understanding of how to best use the survey data, as well as about the running of the survey. The national team received constructive and practical feedback from the PPGs, which will be used to inform future developments of the GPPS. For example, suggesting ways the GPPS practice comparison tool could be improved to make it more helpful to PPGs.
Insight & Feedback Team from NHS England and NHS Improvement
– Click here to read the case study
2.2 People are informed and supported to be as involved as they wish to be in decisions about their care
We work with providers to ensure people in Gloucestershire have access to good quality information that supports them in decisions about their health care. You can find out more about our work, for example On Your Mind (Children and Young Peoples Mental Health) and End of Life Care here.
We also work with representatives from our seldom heard communities to ensure they have access to the information they need. This includes providing interpreters for GP services: our short film for patients whose first language is British Sign Language (BSL) is an example of how we work with partners such as Gloucestershire Deaf Association (GDA). A second film with GDA was developed to convey the importance of providing access to BSL interpretation.
2.3 People report positive experiences of the NHS
We work with our providers to understand people’s experience of using local health services. Information is gathered through a range of patient surveys and the Friends and Family Test and reported to our Clinical Quality Review Groups (CQRGs).
We also review Quality Accounts for our NHS funded service providers. You can see the latest reports in Section 4 of our Working Together information.
2.4 People’s complaints about services are handled respectfully and efficiently
Without feedback we cannot know what people think about the services they have received or expect to receive in the future. We want you to feel you are able to tell us about your experience with the NHS.
We review patient complaints information for our provider organisations through our Clinical Quality Review Groups (CQRGs).
Further information about the CCG’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and making a complaint is available here.