Our work

Fostering an inclusive healthcare system for all, empowering communities and breaking down barriers to health equity.

Our mission is to empower healthcare leaders and communities to proactively address and eliminate inequalities, both within the workforce and in the delivery of healthcare services.

Read the Making an Impact in Tackling Inequalities 2024/25 report, which highlights key achievements from the past year and our commitment to creating a more equitable healthcare system for all communities.

Explore our development programmes, improvement initiatives and publications below to discover how you can play a vital role in driving impactful change and fostering an inclusive future for all.

Development programmes and organisational support frameworks

In a meeting, an office working is pointing a pencil.

Infographic

Explore the NHS Confederation's five-step model to address health inequalities

Five key steps to identify challenges and implement solutions for reducing health inequalities and improving community health outcomes.

15 May 2025

News

COPD Health Inequalities Improvement Programme

NHS Confederation and Sanofi partner to enhance patient care and address health inequalities in respiratory health access and outcomes.

6 February 2025

A patient and carer, laughing and looking at a tablet.

Report

Excellence through equality

Examples of anti-racist initiatives from BME Leadership Network members, to help advance equality within the workforce and for service users.

10 April 2024

Exploring LGBTQ+ staff experience in the NHS

Access our infographic which explores the growing LGBTQ+ staff experience gap and actions you can take to support LGBTQ+ NHS colleagues.

17 May 2024

A seminar leader presenting to delegates.

Article

Tackling Inequalities Leadership Programme 2025/26

Practical support for EDI directors and senior responsible officers delivering strategic workforce and health equity programmes and interventions.

22 May 2025

Senior leaders in a meeting in a boardroom

Guidance

Health Inequalities Leadership Framework: board assurance tool

Assisting board members to assess strategies, delivery plans or other initiatives for their impact on health inequality.

21 February 2023

Apply for the Diversity in Health and Care Partners Programme

Supporting health and care organisations to create more inclusive workplace cultures, where difference is welcomed and celebrated.

Improvement initiatives

A crowded street viewed at waist hieght.

Article

Health Inequalities Improvement Programme: Redbridge Place

Tackling health inequalities for individuals living with cardiovascular disease.

2 July 2024

Article

Leadership Action on Health Inequality

An improvement support programme for senior leaders: system leaders and NHS board members – exec and non-exec. Delivered by the NHS Confederation.

11 May 2023

Office workers having a conversation and looking at a laptop.

Article

NHS Confederation and AstraZeneca health inequalities collaboration agreement

Enhancing patient care through population health-focused solutions.

1 December 2023

Collage of heads in different shades of brown

Corporate publication

Commit, understand, act: our anti-racism strategy

Supporting healthcare organisations to eliminate racism and reduce health inequalities through commitment, understanding and action.

22 November 2022

Health inequalities

Tackling health inequalities to transform lives.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Supporting NHS trusts to create a fairer and more diverse workplace, where difference is welcomed.

Publications

Icon of weighing scales equally balanced

Article

Is the NHS too woke?

To be true to itself, the NHS must promote equality among its workforce and tackle health inequalities that patients may experience.

13 March 2024

Report

Action for equality in Wales and Northern Ireland

This report explores the diversity of boards across health and care services in Wales and Northern Ireland.

26 March 2024

Healthcare workers checking a monitor on a ward.

Briefing

The illusion of inclusion? LGBTQ+ staff experience in healthcare

Tangible work still to do to ensure LGBTQ+ healthcare staff can thrive, latest survey from the Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network finds.

28 November 2024

Article

Tackling Inequalities Alliance

An alliance of EDI professionals committed to reducing inequalities and transforming the NHS.

18 December 2024

Past events

People seated listening to a presentation, slightly blurred

Fostering excellence in tackling inequality

Our conference took place on Tuesday 14 May 2024 and we discussed tackling inequalities both within the workforce and service delivery.

14 May 2024

Conference

Watch - Women in Health and Care: Innovating for Impact

The Health and Care Women Leaders Network hosted its eighth annual conference, on 11 December 2024 in Leeds.

11 December 2024 09:30 - 16:00 GMT

Event

Watch: Accelerating change with anti-racist approaches in the NHS

The BME Leadership Network held its annual Black History Month celebration at the Royal College of Nursing with Professor Stephani Hatch.

23 October 2024 18:30 - 21:00 GMT

A patient sits at her kitchen table with a laptop out in front of her. She is dressed casually and waiving "goodbye" during a remote appointment with her doctor via a video call.

Webinar

Watch - Empowering Every Woman: International Women’s Day 2025

Watch highlights from the Health and Care Women Leaders Network's International Women's Day 2025 webinar on Friday 7 March.

7 March 2025 10:00 - 12:00 GMT