Data, dialogue and development

In 2013 Public World published a report, Discrimination by Appointment, showing evidence that black and minority ethnic (BME) applicants for jobs in the National Health Service (NHS) were less likely than white applicants to be shortlisted and less likely to be appointed even if they were shortlisted. Combined with other evidence, this galvanised NHS England to take action, resulting in the introduction from 1 April this year of a mandatory Workforce Race Equality Standard. This report of a presentation by Public World managing director Brendan Martin explores the evidence of racial discrimination in the NHS and discusses the challenge of culture change it demands. It concludes with an outline of the services Public World offers to NHS employers to support them in addressing the challenge. (2015)