At our most recent equality and diversity council meeting, held on 27/10/26, members from our staff networks highlighted wider societal issues that make people feel vulnerable and unwelcome when out in their communities or when getting on with day-to-day activities. Our transgender and non-binary colleagues and allies shared their thoughts following the publication of NHS England’s single sex services and facilities guidance, and discussed how the reaction, especially on social media, has made them feel.
Our Trust and the City of Bradford have a long history of being a place of sanctuary for our colleagues and for the people we serve; this is unconditional and speaks to the shared values that we will not compromise on. At BTHFT we want to reiterate that you will be welcomed into our hospitals, we will strive to give you the best care that we can, and as colleagues we will show kindness, compassion and allyship.
Belonging here at the Trust is a central focus of all that we do. It is why we ensured this was included as part of the three themes for our “We Are Bradford” movement to – improve, sustain and belong. We expect all colleagues, patients, and visitors to treat one another with dignity and respect. Discrimination and harassment of any kind have no place within our Trust and will be taken seriously and acted upon.
While we cannot control and influence the unacceptable divisive narratives in the wider world, we have absolute control over the way we behave towards each other. It is our shared responsibility to foster a culture of dignity, respect and belonging, and to ensure that everyone who works in, receives care from, or visits our Trust feels welcomed and valued.
We are committed to providing a safe, dignified and respectful working environment for all our colleagues and we are committed to providing safe, dignified and respectful care for all our patients.
If you are apprehensive about coming into our Trust, please feel free to get in contact with our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team diversity@bthft.nhs.uk
Mel Pickup
Chief Executive