Have you taken every available opportunity to collect protected characteristics data from your patients?
That’s the key question being asked in a new animated film that’s been produced by the South East Mental Health Team. The film has been created specifically to address the data gaps within mental health services in the South East region and the inequities that individuals with mental health conditions face.
The project aims to raise awareness of the important role every member of staff in the healthcare system can play in improving care. It started with primary care and GP practices in mind, but the principles are valid for all health and care settings.
You can watch the full film here:
“Simply ensuring that key information on a patient’s record is completed and up to date, can help care coordinators and clinicians make appropriate arrangements for individuals to access care in the right conditions and have a better experience of care,” says Olivia Falgarac-Jones, previously Deputy Director for Mental Health Delivery across the South East.
“For people who have multiple and/or chronic conditions, especially for those who are the most vulnerable in our communities; access, experience and outcomes of care can often be challenging or negative. Empowering care teams with key information about their patients and service users will make a significant difference to the way they plan and deliver care so that it is personalised to the person who needs it. This will make it easier for individuals to access support and stay well.”
The additional resources below include a compelling clinical case for collecting this data, flyers for staff, patients and carers, a blueprint from a mental health trust and the recording of a showcase webinar, which provides practical examples of improved clinical care and service user experience:
In the NHS, we have a duty to make our services inclusive for everyone, across nine ‘protected characteristics’. These characteristics are defined in the Equality Act as:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender Re-Assignment
- Pregnancy and Maternity
- Race
- Religion or Belief
- Sex
- Sexual Orientation
- Marriage or Civil Partnership
We are also committed to making our services better for people who are socially excluded, such as rough sleepers or asylum seekers.
Patient facing leaflet:
Patient facing easy read leaflet:
Blueprint for improving data quality report:
Staff facing poster:
Clinical case: Evidence of health inequalities across priority characteristics
Protected Characteristics showcase webinar:
The nine Protected Characteristics:
