Conference

No One Left Behind: Anti-racist Healthcare Conference 2025

Defining the priority actions and quality solutions needed to ensure the highest quality care for all.
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General information

Time
15 May 2025 09:30 - 17:00 GMT
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Audience
Open to all
Cost
£100.00 +VAT
Event location
London W1

Speakers

Anti-racist healthcare conference details

In 2025 we invite you to join the NHS Confederation and the BME Leadership Network on our programme of action to support the NHS to achieve its goals of anti-racism for both its workforce and service provision, with the goal of improving services for all communities.

Racism not only undermines the standards access, experience and outcomes for racialised communities, it also normalises the lowering of standards for racialised communities in a way that impacts negatively on the quality of care for everyone.  

The NHS as an organisation, maintains broad public support and credibility to speak with authority in defence of its principles of universality, inclusivity and equality. It has a duty to do so in the interest of patient care. This remains of particular importance against the backdrop of division and social unrest witnessed over the past 12 months. 

Programme and speakers

Our annual conference will be hosted by nurse, professor, author and campaigner Dame Elizabeth Anionwu DBE, with speakers including chair of the Runnymede Trust and former CEO and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, Professor Dame Donna Kinnair DBE and Liz Fekete, director of the Institute of Race Relations.   

  • We are currently finalising an engaging line-up of speakers, further details to be added here soon.

    9:30-10:00amNetworking and exhibition
    10:00-10.05amWelcome and introduction
    10:05-10.15am

    No one left behind: the socio-economic duty and our shared responsibility to think intersectionally and act intentionally - breaking down barriers rooted in class. 

    • Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu DBE, Nurse, Author and Campaigner
    10:15-10:55am

    Fireside chat and Q&A with: 

    • Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu DBE, Nurse, Author and Campaigner 
    • Professor Dame Donna Kinnair DBE, Chair, The Runnymede Trust 
    • Dame Marie Gabriel, Trustee and Chair, NHS Race and Health Observatory
    • Professor Mark Radford CBE, National Director of Education and LTWP Delivery; and Deputy Chief Nurse for England            
    10:55-11:15amBreak and exhibition
    11:15-12:00pm

    Choose from one of our breakout sessions:

    Session 1: Community resilience and survival - staying true to our values 
    In a world where political and social landscapes are increasingly turbulent, communities must find ways to remain resilient and uphold their core values. Explore how communities can thrive and survive despite structural racism and other systemic inequalities that act as determinants of health.    

    • Wayne Farah, Co-facilitator, BME Leadership Network
    • Liz Fekete, Director, Institute of Race Relations
    • Dr Shabna Begum, Chief Executive Officer, The Runnymede Trust

    Session 2: Improving patient safety and quality through anti-racism
    In this session we will examine the impact of racism on health outcomes and the ways in which it undermines patient safety, discussing the critical role of patient and carer engagement in applying the principles of anti-racism to facilitate improvement. 

    • Cllr Dr Jacqui Dyer MBE, King's College London, Honorary Fellow and Independent Health and Social Care Consultant

    Session 3: Addressing the ethnicity pay gap
    The new Race and Disability Equality Act has transformative potential as a vehicle to address the ethnicity pay gap. This session will delve into the evidence base supporting the need for research and the practical application of this research to foster workplace equality.

    • Alexandra Ankrah, Senior Policy Advisor, NHS England
    • Asmina Islam Chowdhury, Programme Development Manager: Race Equality, NHS Providers
    12:00-12:30pm 

    Keynote:

    • Sue Tranka, Chief Nursing Officer and Nurse Director, NHS Wales
    12:30-1:30pmLunch and exhibition
    1:30-2:15pm

    Making the Ten Year Plan an anti-racist plan 
    The NHS Ten Year Plan presents a crucial opportunity to embed antiracist principles into the fabric of healthcare policy and practice. This panel session will bring together healthcare leaders and other experts to discuss actionable strategies for making the NHS Ten Year Plan an anti-racist initiative.

    Dame Marie Gabriel, Trustee and Chair, NHS Race and Health Observatory

    Professor Stephani Hatch, Professor of Sociology and Epidemiology, Vice Dean for Culture, Diversity & Inclusion, King's College London 

    Stella Vig, National Medical Director for Secondary Care, NHS England 

    2:15-2:30pmBreak
    2:30-3:15pm

    Choose from one of our breakout sessions:

    Session 1: Inclusive communication – being seen and heard
    Effective communication is the cornerstone of building inclusive, engaged, and empowered communities. This session explores the principles and practices of inclusive communication, emphasising the importance of ensuring that all voices are seen, heard, and valued. Participants will learn strategies for connecting authentically with diverse audiences and fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding.

    • Chloe Knight, Head of EDI Communications, NHS Confederation
    • Edna Boampong, Programme Director for Diverse and Inclusive Communications NHS England 
    • Barry Mussenden, Deputy Director for Corporate Communications, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

    Session 2: Community resilience and survival: staying true to our values
    In a world where political and social landscapes are increasingly turbulent, communities must find ways to remain resilient and uphold their core values. Explore how communities can thrive and survive despite structural racism and other systemic inequalities that act as determinants of health. 

    • Wayne Farah, Co-facilitator, BME Leadership Network
    • Liz Fekete, Director, Institute of Race Relations
    • Dr Shabna Begum, Chief Executive Officer, The Runnymede Trust

    Session 3: To be confirmed

    3:15-3:50pm

    What's next for anti-racism in healthcare?

    • Professor Dame Donna Kinnair DBE, Chair, The Runnymede Trust
    • Acosia Nyanin, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England (Professional and System Leadership), NHS England
    • Dr Rosie Benneyworth, Interim Chief Executive, Health Services Safety Investigations Body
    • Jo Lenaghan, Director of Workforce Strategy and Planning, NHS England
    3:50-4:00pmClosing remarks
    4:00-5:00pmThe decompression lounge - networking and drinks

    BOOK YOUR PLACE  

    • Gain understanding on anti-racism as the ‘golden thread’ within national policy implementation and its role in the upcoming 10 Year Plan for the NHS.
    • Draw on the experiences of anti-racism campaigners and learn about models of best practice in this space.
    • Hear examples of successful policy implementation and service improvement.
    • Connect and share experiences, challenges and scalable solutions with like-minded colleagues. 

    Professor Dame Donna Kinnair DBE share her thoughts on why leaders should attend. 

  • This event is for all NHS leaders responsible for commissioning and delivering services and managing people.

    We welcome senior leaders, clinicians, patient advocates and anyone with lived experience of working to combat inequality in the NHS.  

  • If you are interested in becoming an event partner, supporter or exhibitor please contact our commercial team to explore opportunities: supporters@nhsconfed.org. 

  • £100 + VAT per delegate 

    BOOK YOUR PLACE   

  • We are committed to hosting an inclusive and accessible event that enables everyone to attend and engage fully.  

    Please email BLN@nhsconfed.org in advance of the event to let us know us how we can support you to take part on the day.  

BOOK YOUR PLACE 

 “ As a new government prepares to deliver a new Ten-Year Plan – we are rising to the challenge of making sure no one is left behind.

The ambition for the NHS was not just that it be free to all, but that it provides the best care to all when they need it. 

The NHS has long been aware of lower levels of satisfaction with and outcomes from its services among patients from racialised communities as well as growing need in, and widening inequalities impacting, those communities.

Our role as leaders is to provide the highest possible standards of care to all – it is time to come together to share perspectives, discuss solutions and build a future NHS that is truly antiracist."

Wayne Farah, Co-chair, BME Leadership Network

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