Top 100 Stonewall ranking for ambulance service
North East Ambulance Service has been named in the 2017 Stonewall Top 100 Employers list.
The Trust, which employs more than 2,500 people, including an estimated 250 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees, was ranked 60th in this year’s list.
Stonewall is a national charity which campaigns on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. More than 1,000 organisations have taken part in the Workplace Equality Index since it began 10 years ago.
NEAS is the third highest ranking Health and Social care organisations in the UK up from 4th last year and the top performing Ambulance Service. NEAS is also the top performing emergency service in the region.
This ranking recognises the Trust’s efforts to engage with more LGBT employees and patients as well as make improvements to service and employment practices.
Over the last year the Trust has been involved in a range of initiatives including: improving our engagement with LGBT patients and stakeholders; getting more employees involved in the Proud@NEAS employee network; and working with local transgender organisations to identify and overcome barriers.
Mark Johns, NEAS Engagement Manager, said: “It’s fantastic that the commitment, enthusiasm and hard work of our employees continues to be recognised and we would like to thank employees, stakeholders and everyone who has helped us.
“As an emergency service which deals with the public on a daily basis, treating staff and patients fairly is one of our fundamental principles and something we are committed to.
“We understand that people work better when they can be themselves, and for that to happen, we need to create an inclusive working environment that values the contribution everyone makes. We hope this recognition will make North East Ambulance Service an even more attractive organisation to work for.”
Ben Sargent, vice chair of the Proud@NEAS group, said: “I am extremely proud of the work undertaken, in particular the Proud @NEAS group, the work the Trust has been involved in would not have been possible without dedicated employees”.
Catherine Young, Champion for Equality on the NEAS Executive Board, said: “We are delighted to make the top 100 for a second year running, we will use this result to build on this achievement.”
ENDS
Media contact: Sam Reed, sam.reed@neas.nhs.uk, Tel: 0191 4302099.
Notes to editors
North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (NEAS) covers 3,200 square miles across the North East region. It employs more than 2,500 staff and serves a population of 2.7 million people by handling all NHS 111 and 999 calls for the region, operating patient transport and ambulance response services, delivering training for communities and commercial audiences and providing medical support cover at events.
In 2014/15 the service answered 1.107 million emergency 999 and NHS 111 calls, responded to 302,687 incidents that resulted in a patient being taken to hospital, treated and discharged 18,144 patients with telephone advice and treated and discharged 81,990 patients at home. In the same year, emergency care crews reached 134,745 incidents within the national target of 8 minutes.