Equality, Diversity & Human Rights

Fairfield Independent Hospital is committed to promoting Equality, Diversity and Human Rights (EDHR) for all of its staff, patients and visitors. Our Equality and Diversity Strategy outlines and builds upon the work that is already in place across the organisation.

We are committed to challenging discrimination in all its forms and ensuring that equality lies at the heart of everything we do.  We want to be a fair and unbiased organisation, one where everyone accepts difference between individuals and values the benefits that diversity brings. All of our staff want to be sure that people, patients, carers, themselves and colleagues are treated fairly and that Fairfield Independent Hospital becomes the best place to receive care and the best place to work.

Our service delivery, employment practices, policies and procedures ensure the Hospital’s core values are at the heart of our culture and permeate across all areas of our organisation. Feedback from  our patient experience surveys and staff surveys provide valuable, real time, information on how we can   improve access to our services from all sections of the local community.

Candidates applying for posts within our hospital have the assurance that our practices and HR processes are non-discriminatory. As an employer we will create an culture in which diversity is valued and staff, feel able to promote equality and challenge unlawful discrimination.

There are a number of drivers that inform, regulate and monitor the Hospitals equality work. These drivers dictate and drive how we provides services to members of diverse communities.  These include:

  • Equality Legislation 
  • Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Codes of Practice and Guidance
  • NHS Constitution
  • Care Quality Commission (CQC) Essential standards of quality and safety 
  • NHS resolution 
  • Equality Delivery System (EDS). 
  • Equality Impact Assessments

Legal compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and the PSED (public sector equality duty) is included as a requirement as part of  within our contract  with the NHS.

The Hospital as part of its governance framework has several policies related to Equality, Diversity and Human Rights which apply to all staff, including  – locum, bank /agency staff, Consultant practitioners granted Practising Privileges to work at Fairfield and  to all patients and other stakeholders who use our services. All new staff undertake a detailed training programme of induction which includes specific training on Equality, Diversity and Human Rights

We need to be pro-active so that we can meet the changing needs of diverse communities and provide fair access for all in an environment where dignity and individuality is respected and promoted.

For more information please refer to our latest reports:  annual report 22 – 23

Modern Slavery Act  Statement 

Introduction from the Chairman, Cyril Barratt

As part of legislative  requirements, the hospital is required to have a publicly available statement on Modern Slavery.  This statement for the year ending 2022 updates and replaces earlier versions.

As a charitable organisation, we are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our relationships and business dealings. We are totally committed to ensuring that we have robust and effective contacts in place to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place in our charity or those associated with it.

The Charity

We are a single site charity and we have no overseas operations.

Our Charity Number is 502791 and our Company Number is 1141676.

We provide a wide range of health treatment and care and everything that we do supports our charitable purpose.  Our aim is simple – we provide high quality medical services to help improve the health and wellbeing of the patients that we serve in a professional, safe and caring environment.

Our Suppliers

Our purchasing of supplies is mainly from companies based in the UK and Europe.  We check that all our suppliers understand and comply with the Modern Slavery Act. We request Modern Slavery statements and assurances from our suppliers and include an anti-slavery clause in all new contracts. We feel this demonstrates that we are being robust in ensuring that slavery or human trafficking is not taking place in our business or supply chains.

Should any risk or involvement with modern slavery or human trafficking be identified we shall take all possible steps to work with suppliers to help them improve their practice. If this is not possible, then we will seek alternative suppliers.

Our Policies

We have range of policies to ensure that our staff comply with the Modern Slavery Act. These include:-

  • Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Policy
  • Safeguarding Policies
  • Whistleblowing Policy
  • Business Conduct Policy
  • Recruitment and Selection Policy


Training

We do provide training to staff to ensure that they are aware of the risks involved in human trafficking and modern slavery.  All new starters across the organisation attend an induction, which highlights the Charity’s values.

This statement is made pursuant to Section 54(1) of The Modern Slavery Act 2015. This is the hospital’s statement for its financial year 2022. It was approved by the Board in January 2023.

Reasonable adjustments

Every person with a disability, health condition or impairment, who attends our hospitals, should receive care and treatment that is of the highest quality. Improving our approach to support disabled people, whether that be in the environment, in how we do things, or in the way we communicate, is known as making ‘reasonable adjustments.’

Examples of reasonable adjustments which can be made include:

  • Arranging the first or the last appointment of the day,
  • Arranging a double appointment,
  • Using tools such as pictures or images to support communication,
  • Communicating via technology, such as a tablet or telephone,
  • Providing information on other formats, such as easy read or braille,
  • Separate waiting areas (if available),
  • Flexible visiting (if appropriate).

If you think you may need any kind of adjustment when attending our Hospital , please contact the ward or department.

If you have any questions or concerns about your access to care, our facilities, or how we are meeting your needs, please contact   Enquiries@fairfield.org.uk