Equity & Diversity

Equity and Diversity

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine is proud to represent a diverse membership of over 11,500 clinicians working as Emergency Medicine doctors, ACPs, and nurses. Equality is a core value of the College, and we take our commitment to addressing all forms of inequality very seriously. In 2020, we established two Committees to take forward this important work: the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee and the Women in Emergency Medicine Special Interest group.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee

The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee was established to address inequalities and discrimination in the speciality of Emergency Medicine. The Committee was focused on racial inequalities to begin with but is working towards a wider remit in examining inequalities and discrimination against other social groups.

To date, the Committee has influenced the PPE agenda on a national scale, carried out a survey on member’s experiences during the second wave and provided advice and guidance to the wider College on matters relating to equality and diversity. Read our vision and workplan here.

Committee Co-Chairs

Dr Sivanthi Sivanadarajah, Consultant at Stepping Hill Hospital
Dr David Chung, Consultant at Crosshouse University Hospital

Committee members

Gordon Miles, Derek Prentice, April McKay, Dr Rita Das, Dr Chenai Mausti, Dr Cieran McKiernan, Dr Ed Oforka, Dr David A Chung, Romana Moss, Dr Mohsin Islam, Dr Sofia Rahman, Dr Visvakumaran Reddy, Mrs Jennifer Russell, Dr Nida Suri, Dr Alice Taylor, Dr Ursula-Jade Hartley, Ruth Beveridge, Anukiran Ravichandran.

For more information please email: edichairs@rcem.ac.uk

Publications

EDI Committee Vision and Strategy (September, 2021) – The EDI Committee’s vision and strategy for 2021-2023 outlines the key objectives, workstreams and success indicators for the Committee.
PPE, ethnic minorities and occupational risk in Emergency Departments during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2021) – The Committee carried out a survey to examine what was driving the unequal access to appropriate PPE. The report made a number of recommendations to Government, the NHS, and Trusts.
Position statement on terminology – The position statement examines why language is important and the implications of ethnic categorisations. RCEM will aim to avoid using generalised terminology and where possible, specify which ethnic groups are being referred to.

Gender Equity Committee

The Gender Equity Committee (GEC) was established to play a key role in raising awareness of gender disparities in the specialty and mitigate the negative consequences this. The Committee aims to facilitate a culture of open communication in the College and to ensure that the gendered experiences of its members and fellows are taken into account across College work.

We are working closely with the College to improve its offer to women. We have carried out research examining the ‘leaky pipeline’ into the specialty of Emergency Medicine and we have influenced other committees to ensure they are taking women’s experiences into account.

Committee Chair

Dr Kirsty Challen, Consultant at Royal Preston Hospital

Committee Members

Dr Salwa Malik, Gemma Croffie, Romana Moss, Dr Hannah McKee, Dr Karen Squires, Dr Laura Cottey, Dr Priya Marathe, Dr Robyn Powell, Dr Sa Narang, Dr Shama Khan, Dr Sinead Campbell-Gray, Dr Chelcie Jewitt, Sarah Hickin, Dr Bianca Ebtehadj.

For more information, please email: GECchair@rcem.ac.uk

Publications

GEC Vision and Strategy (September, 2021) – GEC’s vision and strategy for 2021-2023 outlines the key objectives, workstreams and success indicators for the Committee.
Women’s Health Strategy RCEM Consultation Response (May, 2021) – GEC responded the UK Government’s Women’s Health Strategy.