Equality monitoring 

This webpage explains what equality monitoring is, why we ask for this data, how your information will be used and examples of the difference it makes.

What is equality monitoring?

Equality monitoring involves collecting information about patients to ensure we provide accessible and inclusive services to everyone in our community.

It helps identify current and future needs, possible inequalities and gives an opportunity for everyone’s voice to be heard.

How do you use my information?

We use the information from the answers you provide to:

  • Provide person-centred, holistic care
  • Remove barriers and improve access to our services
  • Identify the needs of our local diverse population and any gap in service provision
  • Assess the current usage of services
  • Use anonymised data to support our reporting requirements
  • Shape and inform future service developments

Why is equality monitoring important?

Under the Equality Act 2010, there are nine ‘protected characteristics’ that we will ask questions about:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Gender reassignment
  • Marriage and civil partnership
  • Pregnancy and maternity
  • Race
  • Religion or belief
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation

(Image courtesy of Devon County Council Equality Team)

There are two main reasons we ask equality monitoring questions:

  1. Your answers enable us to provide personally tailored care. This is easier when we have a more rounded understanding of someone’s background and life. 
  2. We want to understand the diverse needs of people accessing our services. Your answers enable us to analyse and identify any inequalities or barriers. We will then use this information in future planning to improve the accessibility of our services. 

You do not need to answer all the questions in the form and can instead answer with ‘prefer not to say’. You may find some of the questions may not be relevant to you, but they are important to the person with that characteristic. The more information we have the better we will be able to understand your personal needs and the wider needs of people across Devon.

Examples of how data has made a difference:

One of our Experts by Experience highlights how important it is to share equality data not just for the benefit of the individual patient, but also the wider population:

“I am prescribed medication as a result of a disability. This medication is not commonly prescribed, but commonly used illegally and was therefore an exclusionary factor for accessing services. After sharing my data not only could I access the service, the department received training and the Trust is working on specific policies to improve accessibility for those prescribed this medication.”

For some, having their voice heard and an opportunity to share their data can be really powerful. We spoke to a patient accessing our Older People’s Mental Health Services who explained they were grateful to be asked about their sexual orientation on their equality monitoring form, stating that “services usually don’t ask due to my age.” 

Click on the articles below to read more about how we’ve been able to make some of our services more inclusive as a result of people sharing their information:

Where is the information stored?

The answers you provide are kept private and confidential. They are stored on a secure electronic patient record system.

We adhere to The Data Protection Act 2018, which ensures we protect your personal information and only ask for information that is relevant to the services we provide.

More information can be found in our Data Protection policy.

If at any point you would like to retract or change your information, please contact your health worker. Additionally, if you do not feel confident sharing your information during your first appointment, you can provide it at any stage of your care.

When do I complete the form?

The form is usually sent to you with your appointment letter. Please complete the form and bring it with you to your appointment. Sometimes you may be given the form at your first appointment.

Who can I speak to if I have any questions?

If you have any queries, or need help completing the form, please speak to your healthcare worker or relevant service.

If you require this information in an alternative format or language, please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on dpt.pals@nhs.net or 01392 675686.

If you have any questions about Equality, Diversion and Inclusion within our organisation please email dpn-tr.equality@nhs.net. Thank you.

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