Publish date: 8 July 2025
Mid Cheshire Hospitals has achieved recognition from the North West Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic Assembly for its work towards becoming intentionally and unapologetically anti-racist.
The Trust achieved the Assembly’s bronze status, which acknowledges an organisation’s successful first steps towards making positive changes.
The North West Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Assembly supports NHS organisations across the region to be anti-racist, recognising that racism and discrimination are major drivers behind health inequalities.
It encourages Trusts to have an actively anti-racist stance, taking action to eliminate racism, stand with colleagues when they experience racism, and eradicate inequalities in access, outcomes and experience of healthcare.
The Assembly’s anti-racist framework has milestone achievements of bronze, silver and gold awards.
To receive the bronze award, Mid Cheshire Hospitals had to show it is:
- Leading from the front;
- Making anti-racism ‘mission critical’;
- Setting goals that go beyond legal or NHS compliance;
- Reducing a health inequality;
- Communicating its zero-tolerance approach.
The Trust provided evidence of successful work including:
- The creation of an anti-racism statement with a zero-tolerance approach, developed in partnership with patients, governors, staff and its Cultural Diversity Network;
- Ian Moston, Chief Executive Officer, becoming the Trust’s executive sponsor for the work;
- Events including a Connecting Cultures celebration at Leighton Hospital and Board development sessions;
- The Trust’s Elevate Leadership Programme, which supports the development of future leaders from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds;
- Training which aims to reduce inequity in maternity and neonatal outcomes for Black and Brown mothers;
- Staff induction sessions and training on anti-racism, linked to the Trust’s values and behaviours.
Bobby Sharma, Chair of the Trust’s Cultural Diversity Network, said: “All of our work to date has helped to challenge and shape the Trust’s thinking on what working in an anti-racist organisation really means to us.
“Working towards this framework matters because it demonstrates a clear commitment to meaningful change; creating a workplace where all staff and patients feel safe, valued and respected, regardless of their background.
“This commitment to anti-racism and positive action has undoubted benefits which can support staff wellbeing, improve outcomes for patients, and strengthen our relationships with the communities we care for.”
Cultural Diversity Network member Deborah Maren, who is the Trust’s Clinical Governance Manager and a Royal College of Nursing Representative, said: “It’s absolutely our responsibility as a Trust to take action to help to eradicate racism in all its forms, wherever it exists.
“Our journey towards becoming an anti-racist organisation started with the creation of our anti-racism statement, which is now displayed in our Trust corridors for patients and colleagues to see. We’ve also seen a host of positive action take place across the Trust and we’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to these valuable projects.
“While important, these initiatives were just the first step and we want to make even greater strides in the future with more direct action. This will include educating and empowering staff to be anti-racist, continuing to listen to and learn from the experiences of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic colleagues, and focussing on the importance of allyship.
“We recognise this work is a hugely important part of making Mid Cheshire Hospitals the best possible place to work and to receive care.”
For more information and to see the Trust’s anti-racism statement, visit https://
Mid Cheshire Hospitals staff including representatives of its Cultural Diversity Network celebrating the launch of the Trust’s anti-racism statement.
