Top 50 Stonewall ranking for ambulance service
EMBARGOED UNTIL 00.01 19 JANUARY 2016
North East Ambulance Service has been named one of the most improved organisations in the 2016 Stonewall Top 100 Employers list after climbing 176 places up the list.
The Trust, which employs more than 2,500 people, including an estimated 250 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees, was ranked 46th in this year’s list– and is now the joint third highest ranking NHS organisation in the UK.
This year’s ranking is the best ever for NEAS, having previously achieved 70 in 2010. In 2015, the Trust ranked 222nd.
It rewards the Trust’s efforts to engage more LGBT employees and patients as well as improvements made to services and employment practices.
Over the last year this has included creating better understanding and awareness across the Trust, introducing of a new Proud@NEAS Staff Network and improving our engagement with LGBT patients and stakeholders.
The Trust was also mentored by Gentoo, a previous Stonewall Champion, as part of Stonewall’s Star Performers initiative.
Mark Johns, NEAS Engagement Manager, said: “It’s fantastic that the commitment, enthusiasm and hard work of our employees has been recognised and we would like to thank Gentoo for their support throughout our journey”.
“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. The Stonewall framework has helped us to make significant improvements for LGBT employees over the last year and the feedback we have received will help to keep the momentum and identify where we can make further improvements.
“We hope this recognition will make North East Ambulance Service an even more attractive organisation to work for.”
Vincent McCluskey, chair of the Proud@NEAS group, said: “I am extremely proud of the work undertaken by NEAS and in particular the Proud @NEAS group which has helped us achieve this position in the Stonewall rankings.
“NEAS, for me, has always been an employer and an organisation that values its staff and the diversity they bring and this achievement goes to show that.”
Catherine Young, Champion for Equality on the NEAS Executive Board, said: “We are delighted that the enthusiasm and actions of the Trust to embrace equality and diversity have been recognised, and I’ll be working with all involved to build on this achievement.”
Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive, Stonewall said: “NEAS and all of those employers that secured a place in the Stonewall Top 100 Employers 2016 list performed fantastically this year. We have had more submissions than ever before and so making the list is a huge achievement.
“I’d like to thank all of those organisations for their continued efforts to ensure that their lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff feel comfortable to bring their whole selves to work and are accepted without exception.”
Notes to editors
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.
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.
This evidence-based benchmarking enables organisations to assess their achievements and progress on LGBT equality in the workplace including policy, staff engagement and career development. It also provides an opportunity to compare and contrast with other organisations in their region or sector. Stonewall Diversity Champions receive in-depth consultative feedback detailing where and how improvements could be made.
The highest performing organisations are celebrated as Stonewall Top 100 employers, enhancing their brand as an employer and service provider of choice.