In this section
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy sets out our ambition to be the best place for patient quality and experience and the best place to work. It provides a framework for action focusing on three, interrelated aims which are:
- Improved patient access, safety and experience.
- A representative and supported workforce.
- Inclusive leadership.
We believe that the only way to consistently provide the highest possible level of care is through being truly inclusive, creating the right conditions for staff to flourish and for patients to receive the services that they need, in the way that they need them and in the right environment based on their individual needs.
Thank you to everyone who has helped to prepare this Strategy and set out our ambition to be a leader in equality, diversity and inclusion.
Our Anti-discrimination Pledge
We want everyone who works and learns at our Trust, receives care from us, or visits our organisation to feel they belong here.
Achieving that means being willing to identify, challenge and address discrimination wherever it exists. We are committed to creating environments and a culture where everyone feels respected, valued and able to contribute fully.
As an inclusive and anti-discriminatory organisation. We will:
- Create a diverse and equitable workplace culture, where everyone feels valued and supported
- Treat each other, our patients and our communities fairly and respectfully, in a way that makes us all feel safe and valued.
- Seek out and listen to the voices of those who experience discrimination and inequality to help shape our policies and decisions.
- Support each other to call out discrimination wherever we see it, regardless of identity, role or seniority.
- Expect senior leaders to act as role models and demonstrate a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination in any form.
- Take concrete steps to effect change, reporting transparently on progress and being honest about where we need to go further.
This is our promise: to be kinder, braver and more accountable – every day.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Reporting
Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED)
The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) is the legal duty that all public authorities, including NHS Trusts, must consider how policies or decisions affect people who are protected under the Equality Act. The Diversity Matters Strategy outlines how MFT seeks to meet PSED and the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Annual Report collates and presents the Trust’s evidence for delivery of objectives. Below, you will find the current version of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Annual Report and a copy of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy Statement.
Pay Gap Reports
At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we are committed to being a fair and inclusive employer. We promote transparency and equality, ensuring all colleagues have the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background or protected characteristics.
Gender Pay Gap:
In line with the statutory requirements for public sector organisations, we have calculated and published our gender pay gap report for a snapshot date of 31st March 2025.
Current report:
Disability & Ethnicity Pay Gaps:
At the time of this reporting, there is no mandatory requirement to publish disability or ethnicity pay gap data. However, in line with our commitment to transparency and continuous improvement, we are publishing our disability and ethnicity pay gaps on a voluntary basis for a snapshot date of 31st March 2025.
This supports our aim to better understand workforce inequalities and take action to address them.
Current Disability Pay Gap report:
Disability Pay Gap Report 2025
Current Ethnicity Pay Gap report:
We are also working towards publishing pay gap reports for other protected characteristics in the coming years, as part of our wider commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES)
The Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) is a set of ten specific measures that enable NHS organisations to compare the experiences of Disabled and non-disabled staff. NHS Trusts are required to produce and publish their WDES report on an annual basis.
Current report
Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES)
The Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) is a set of nine specific measures that enable NHS organisations to compare the experiences of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and White staff. NHS Trusts are required to produce and publish their WRES report on an annual basis.
Current report
Equality Delivery System Report (EDS)
The Equality Delivery System (EDS) is a system that helps NHS organisations improve the services they provide for their local communities and provide better working environments, free of discrimination, for those who work in the NHS, while meeting the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.
Current Report: Equality Delivery System Report 2022/2023
Disabled People’s User Forum
Do you have ideas for how we could make our hospitals more accessible? Then, why not consider becoming a member of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s Disabled People’s User Forum. Our Disabled People’s User Forum aims to improve the access to, experience of and quality of health care for disabled people within our hospitals.
The Forum meets quarterly to hear about new hospital initiatives, discuss your views and experiences, and identify how we can improve the accessibility of MFT’s hospitals. We also hold ad-hoc digital consultations via email.
The meetings are currently held digitally. The following dates have been scheduled for 2026:
| DATE | TIME |
| 21 October 2026 | 11am-1pm |
Members of the forum will be:
- A disabled person who has used MFT’s services.
- A disabled person who is member of the Membership or Governor teams at MFT.
- Someone who has experience of the barriers faced by disabled people when using MFT’s healthcare services and has ideas for how these can be removed.
- Be able to attend up to 4 meetings per year.
- Carers and advocates are welcome.
To find out more and get involved with the forum please email DPUF@mft.nhs.uk or phone 0161 701 6188.
AccessAble Access Guides
We are partnered with AccessAble to create access guides for our nine hospitals. These guides contain detailed factual information about the accessibility of MFT’s departments, wards, and services.
Visitors, patients and staff can use the guides to find out about the access to the service they are visiting. You can find out where a department is located in relation to the main entrance, where car parking spaces are located, whether there are lifts to access other floors, whether a hearing loop is fitted at reception, and in-depth information about accessible toilets.
Please click on the AccessAble icon below to go to MFT’s access guides.
Contact Us
If you require any information in alternative formats or would like to enquire about further details on information presented on this page please contact the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team by emailing equality@mft.nhs.uk.
MFT is a Disability Confident Employer
