NHS ‘must heed employment law over discrimination’

Posted 20/01/2010

An NHS body has called on healthcare bosses to ensure they comply with incoming employment law changes designed to combat discrimination in the workplace.

NHS Employers has hosted a conference to remind those in charge of recruitment and staff management to ensure that equality and diversity is being promoted for the good of the organisation.

This comes in response to the incoming Equality Bill, which will make it increasingly important to eliminate discrimination when it comes into effect in April 2010.

Gill Bellord, director for core membership services at NHS Employers, said that this law will help trusts to improve their productivity by attracting a wider range of capable workers.

He added: “Employers need to ensure their organisations have embedded equality and diversity in their day to day operations.”

Earlier this month, trade union Unison raised concerns that too many NHS trusts are “pouring money down the drain” by fighting legal battles against equal pay claims from female workers when they should be doing more to promote equality.