May 1st 2024

By Ailsa Colquhoun

Welsh inspectorate unveils EDI inspection strategy

The Welsh regulator has unveiled plans to boost equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in GP inspections.

Healthcare Inspectorate’s new EDI strategy highlights the intention to proactively report inspection and assurance findings relating to EDI to ensure good practice is shared and to challenge discrimination.

Elements of EDI within inspections include the following:

• How is equality and inclusion promoted within the organisation, and how are patients and / or staff protected from discrimination. For example: Everyone is treated fairly / equality and diversity policies in place, and processes that includes staff training, feedback mechanisms for patients and staff, equality and diversity officer, formal groups/forums to ensure people with particular protected characteristics can be heard / influence.
• How are patients and / or staff protected from discrimination? This includes potential harassment and discrimination in relation to protected characteristics under the Equality Act. For example: Up to date policy / processes, anti-discrimination training, staff understand what they would do in this instance, feedback mechanisms for patients and staff.             
• Are there examples where reasonable adjustments are in place or made so that everyone, including individuals with particular protected characteristics, can access and use services on an equal basis? For example: Disabled patients and wheelchair access, easy read appointment letters, translation services, advocacy, health passport/this is me documents, commitment not to discharge children and adults dependent on others to bring them to appointments because ‘did not attend/DNA’           

During 2024/25 the Care Inspectorate will be developing EDI factors within inspections.

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