BME Network to launch at St Bartholomew’s Hospital
A network dedicated to highlighting black and monitory ethnic (BME) experiences is to launch at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
The launch event, which will take place at the West Wing Conference Room at St Bartholomew’s Hospital on Wednesday 17 July, will focus on setting the Network’s agenda for the year ahead.
Attendees will also have the chance to meet the co-leads for the Network, Ronke Akinwunmi, Riyaz Patel and Dionne Daniel.
Once established, the Network will provide a space for staff from BME backgrounds to exchange career advice and share workplace experiences - both good and bad.
The BME Network joins a number of other groups working across the hospital to promote greater equality and inclusion, including St Bartholomew’s LGBTQ+ Network, Carers Network, Womens Network, as well as BartsAbility.
The Network will also support the work of Barts Health's Trust-wide BME Staff Diversity Network, of which it is a sub-group.
Dionne Daniel, senior nurse and BME Network co-lead, said:
“Data from the Workforce Race Equality Standards (WRES) shows that people from BME backgrounds remain severely underrepresented at senior levels in the NHS.
“BME staff are less likely to be appointed into roles after shortlisting and more likely to be involved in disciplinary processes at work, compared with non-BME staff.
“These are facts that urgently need addressing.”
Dionne says the new Network will act as a “critical friend” of St Bartholomew’s, working in partnership with the hospital to ensure BME experiences are heard at all levels.
“Evidence shows that a diverse workforce, that reflects the community it serves, increases staff engagement and leads to better patient outcomes.
“As a network, we’re committed to making sure the hospital is the very best it can be.”
To find out more about the network email bme.bartshealth@nhs.net.
Listen to a podcast from the King’s Fund on race equality in the NHS, featuring Dionne, Yvonne Coghill, Director at NHS England Workforce Race Equality Standard and Ben Morrin, Director of Workforce at University College London Hospitals.