Ahead of this year’s World Hospice & Palliative Care Day on 9th October, each day we will be sharing news, initiatives and campaigns from Willowbrook Hospice to show our community how we are committed to equity and equality of care. We believe everyone should have access to palliative and end of life care, no matter who they are or what their background is.
Today we have become the first hospice to be awarded the Navajo Merseyside & Cheshire LGBTIQA+ Charter Mark. This is an equality mark that signifies good practice, commitment and knowledge of the specific needs, issues and barriers facing LGBTQIA+ people, and was awarded to Willowbrook following a formal and intensive assessment on 9th September.
LGBTQIA+ people are just one section of the global community who are less likely to get access to palliative care. The Navajo Charter Mark not only shows that Willowbrook are complying with equality legislation, but it is an important visible signifier to the LGBTQIA+ community that we are serious and dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community, including them. We are committed to developing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in support of maintaining our outstanding approach in the provision of care to everyone – and anyone – who needs it. This is a key part of our Willowbrook Strategy and vision of ‘The best care, delivered with compassion, for our community.’
The Navajo assessment team reviewed in depth our:
- Policies and practices across the whole organisation
- Training in equality, diversity & inclusion
- Staff and volunteer recruitment & engagement
- Monitoring processes
- Service users’ feedback and LGBT engagement
We feel privileged to join other inclusive organisations in our region in the Navajo Charter Mark partnership.
Willowbrook Hospice is one of the UK members of the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA), an international non-governmental organisation focusing exclusively on hospice and palliative care development worldwide and a global voice on hospice and palliative care. World Hospice & Palliative Care Day is an annual unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world. This year’s theme is “Leave no-one behind – equity in access to palliative care”.