healthscotland.com

Vision
Our vision is of a person-centred NHS that eliminates discrimination, embraces diversity and is fair for all, and where all people experience equality of opportunity and equity of treatment.

Purpose
Our purpose is to act as a centre of expert advice and support to NHS Scotland on delivering equality and diversity, eliminating discrimination and reducing health inequalities. We will work in partnership with NHS Boards and other stakeholders to enable all communities and individuals to improve their health, and we will help health services demonstrate they are doing this.

Contribution
Our contribution will be to:

• Demonstrate how equalities can be mainstreamed into the day-to-day work of the NHS - from planning through to service delivery and evaluation.
• Become an exemplar in building equalities into business planning and policy development.
• Contribute to improved effectiveness of Health Scotland through business planning and performance management.
• Become an exemplar in the involvement of individuals, groups and communities in our work - in particular those from the major equality strands of age, disability, gender, race/ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation.
• Act as a catalyst for change.
• Influence national policy and practice.
• Provide integrated equalities support by agreeing clear goals and milestones, evaluating impact and delivering measurable improvements at board level.
• Develop understanding of a human rights based approach to health.
• Facilitate effective partnership working with the full range of our stakeholders.
• Provide leadership at a national level to challenge and inspire, as well as encourage, local leadership.
• Encourage and develop understanding of the causes of health inequalities.

Last reviewed 16 March 2010