To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made by the 27 NHS organisations in the South East Coast Region which were found to be non-compliant with race equality legislation in the Race Equality Service Review, published in July 2008. [HL5286]

Since the publication of the South East Coast Black and Ethnic Minority Network's findings on race equality within the National Health Service (NHS) in 2008, NHS South East Coast has taken active steps to effect improvements. Using a regional audit tool, South East Coast trusts have self-assessed their performance and, where appropriate, drafted action plans so that the necessary progress to compliance could be made. Following a further strategic health authority-led assurance process, NHS South East Coast now confirms that all trusts meet their baseline duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act and where appropriate trusts have set out action plans setting out how they will maintain their compliance.

The NHS constitution affirms the NHS as a service for all. The newly formed NHS Equality and Diversity Council will strengthen the national focus on improving quality in the NHS. The department is running a number of programmes and initiatives to help NHS organisations to achieve compliance with equality legislation and to make step-change improvements for patients and staff from communities likely to experience discrimination and disadvantage.