Mark Lancaster (Shadow Minister, International Development; North East Milton Keynes, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further measures his Department is considering to ensure racial equality and tolerance in the NHS.

Phil Hope (Minister of State (the East Midlands), Regional Affairs; Corby, Labour)

The NHS Constitution of 2009 has equality at its heart requiring national health service organisations to provide a comprehensive service, available to all irrespective of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

The newly formed NHS Equality and Diversity Council, chaired by NHS chief executive, will champion equality in the NHS and seek assurances on future progress.

The Department will build on the work of a number of programmes with a focus on equality. Race for Health is sharing learning about race equality to the NHS, and Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care continues to generate system change. Pacesetters actively works with the NHS to innovate, identify and imbed good practice across all the equality strands for both patients and staff.

In line with the NHS Constitution, the NHS aims to attract, retain and develop the best talent from all sections of the local communities they serve. The Department continues to work with NHS Employers and the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement to promote good workforce practices and improve the career prospects of under represented staff.