Happy to Ask, Happy to Tell: Diversity Data Can Make a Difference
DVD resource to support NHS staff in collecting diversity data from patients
A training DVD has been developed (by a partnership between ISD and NHS Health
The Summary included here is intended to provide a brief description of the project.
A training package including the DVD, training manual 
(4MB) and trainee handbook (830KB) are now available.
Please contact Michael Tornow (further contact details below) if you require a printed version of the manual and/or the handbook.
Objectives
To improve the very low rates of diversity data (i.e. on ethnicity, religion/belief etc) collected by NHS Boards supporting them to comply with current policies and equalities legislation.
Collecting equality and diversity data from patients is essential in allowing the NHS to understand and respond to the health needs of diverse communities. The Scottish Government has said that we need to support frontline staff understand the importance and relevance of collecting this data. The ?Happy to Ask Happy to Tell? DVD is a key training resource and has been designed to support Boards with achieving this.
Methods
An equality information Network agreed to develop a DVD to train staff in gathering all diversity data from patients. The DVD features scenarios focusing on issues raised for each diversity group and shows staff how they could interact with patients to overcome anxieties around provision of data. Stakeholders working with each diversity group, plus staff from NHS Boards, have been involved in developing the DVD and accompanying training materials. The DVD also features introductions about why data is required in terms of the differing health needs of different groups.
Results
A DVD of 42 minutes length is now available to all Boards to make use of in their training programmes for frontline staff involved in data collection. Trainers can use the DVD in sections to promote discussion during training sessions. A training manual and a handbook for trainees will also be available online. Evaluation will focus on uptake and impact on data collection.
Guidance
Equalities Data monitoring guidance for NHS Scotland including recommended questions 
(517KB).
This guidance has been designed to assist NHS Boards with equalities monitoring. This guidance includes the recommended questions developed and endorsed by Scottish Government for monitoring and these should be used (as presented in the guidance) when monitoring service users for their equality data.
Conclusion
The training resource helps staff understand the why and how of diversity data collection. The outcome will be that frontline staff demonstrate greater confidence in collecting such data. That will achieve increased understanding of patterns of access to services and health needs of diverse communities in Scotland. Ultimately knowledge of the health needs and access patterns of diverse groups will benefit the whole population which raises the evidence base for improving services. An additional outcome will be increased understanding amongst staff of diversity monitoring generally which may result in their greater willingness to give personal data for workforce monitoring.
For further information please contact:
Michael Tornow
Project Officer
Equalities & Planning Directorate
NHS Health Scotland
Elphinstone House
65 West Regent Street
Glasgow G2 2AF
Telephone: 0141 354 2917
Email: michael.tornow@health.scot.nhs.uk
joan.jamieson@nhs.net
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