Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

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 Michael Hill
Dr David Chung

Committee members

Alun Davies, Emily Rashleigh, Salwa Malik, April McKay, Paul Robinson, Cieran McKiernan, Ruth Beveridge, Gordon Miles, Simon Carley, Jaziz Vijayakumar, Alice Taylor, Jennifer Russell, Sofia Rahman, Edward Oforka, Rita Das, Mohsin Islam, Nida Suri, Safdar Bhatti, Cehnai Mautsi, Georgina Riches, Thomas Young, Damon Young, Funsho Adeyemi

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.

Anti-racism

Please see this anti-racism video

Nominations are invited for the Dr Salma Hussain EDI (Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) Impact Award 2025.

This award is in memory of Salma and her passion for equity, diversity and inclusion. It reflects RCEM’s continued commitment to foster and embed positive culture change in the NHS, making civility, equity, diversity and inclusion key measures of success and safety for our workforce and our patients. The award will recognise and celebrate an exemplar department’s outstanding and exceptional contribution to EDI.

Applicants should forward submissions on behalf of their team or department and must be an EM clinician or practitioner currently working in a UK or ROI Emergency Department (or equivalent). A maximum of one nomination per department will be accepted, although applicants are permitted to share more than one EDI initiative within the application.

The Dr Salma Hussain EDI Impact Award winner will be invited to receive their award and present their work at one of RCEM’s bi-annual diploma ceremonies. The winning submission will also be able to present their work at the EDI Committee’s annual study day.

Submissions will be jointly judged by RCEM’s EDI Committee, Gender Equity Committee, Honours Committee, and a lay representative from Salma’s family and friends. Winners will be expected to showcase local or regional EDI initiatives which may include one or more of the following:

1. Develop inclusive and equitable systems, policies, and frameworks for patients or colleagues which address health inequalities and workforce disparities.
2. Identify and address individual and organisational blind spots by promoting and delivering EDI awareness, education and training to colleagues and wider teams.
3. Promote activities that recognise and accommodate identity-based challenges and cultural differences to improve accessibility and inclusion.
4. Set up peer mentoring, induction, training and support networks or programmes.
5. Improve reporting and responding mechanisms to ensure colleagues and patients are fully empowered to safely escalate discrimination or incivility.
6. Successfully deliver data/research which informs, supports and measures EDI activity with a clear emphasis on action.

All formats of submissions will be welcomed and considered; examples include but are not confined to:

• Quality Improvement Programme 
• Blog (1500 words)
• Vlog (10 minutes)
• Podcast (10 minutes)
• Poster (PDF)

Applicants should aim to describe an EDI related initiative or quality improvement project with some clear evidence of positive and sustained impact upon vulnerable colleagues or patients who face direct or indirect discrimination within Emergency Departments. The characteristics that are protected by the Equality Act 2010 are: age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage or civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation.

Judges are looking for teams with stories to tell about what has inspired them to initiate transformation, remove barriers and create environments in which colleagues and patients feel a sense of belonging and safety.

Please send submissions to policy@rcem.ac.uk by 17:00 on 10 October 2025.

For more information, contact:
edichairs@rcem.ac.uk