Vision

The use of diversity information to support high quality care and promote equality.

Aims

• Collect information describing personal characteristics such as age, gender, disability, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation
• Promote the use of this information by policy makers, planners, and staff implementing policy and monitoring the health service
• Advise how this information can be used to comply with legislation, regulations, policies and to demonstrate good practice
• Develop new information systems to record and present this information in support the patient journey
• Tailor health care delivery to meet individual patient needs

Background

At present Scotland lacks detailed information on equality and diversity as data has not been routinely collected. What is required is detailed personal information to understand the problems facing NHS Scotland, to inform the design of solutions, and to support NHS Scotland in promoting equality and diversity in all its business areas. 

Implementation

NHS Scotland, along with theNational Resource Centre for Ethnic Minority Health (NRCEMH), has developed a business case to implement the routine collection of information on ethnic and other minority and diversity groups.

The EDIP will deliver these objectives through six workstreams.

EDIP documentation including the initial set up documents, meeting minutes and work plans for the programme.

Publications

Patient Survey: Providing more personal information to the NHS

A pilot patient survey was conducted on 21st August 2006 by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde at the Western Infirmary Out-Patients Department. Findings of the Western Infirmary patient survey (860 KB).

A revised questionnaire (100 KB) has been produced, after the initial pilot, for adaptation at a local level. For this reason it is provided as a Word document, although you will likely wish to distribute locally as a PDF. The document has a few blank pages which are deliberate so that the questionnaire can be printed double sided and still work for patients.

Further guidance on diversity monitoring can be found on the Ethnic Monitoring Toolkit web page, or by contacting Joan Jamieson directly at ISD: joan.jamieson@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk.

Please send any feedback on your experience of using this questionnaire to Joan Jamieson so that she can share with others through the National Diversity Information Implementation Network that operates across Scotland.

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Patient Focus Public Involvement (PFPI): Providing More Personal Information to the NHS

This report provides a detailed account of PFPI work that the EDIP has carried out in collaboration with statutory, community and voluntary organisations. A 9-month project was undertaken to involve patients and gain their opinions about the collection of diversity data by the NHS.  PFPI report: Providing More Personal Information to the NHS (4.7Mb).

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Good information for a better service?: A Consultation with people with learning disabilities about disclosing personal information

This report is primarily a resource for NHS Boards. It is intended to support them in their engagement with service users with learning disabilities and, where appropriate, their carers.

There are limited copies available but should you like one, please email joan.jamieson@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk or call 0141 282 2250.

A version of the publiction for the web is being developed.