Introduction
The Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) programme was established in 2019.
It requires organisations to report against ten indicators of disability equality and supports continuous improvement through robust action planning to tackle the root causes of discrimination.
Inequalities in any form are at odds with our values. Research shows that the fair treatment of our staff is directly linked to better clinical outcomes and better experience of care for patients.
This report represents the eighth publication of the Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) since its introduction.
It is encouraging to report a number of positive outcomes within the 2026 findings, particularly in relation to increased disability declaration rates across the Trust.
Improvements have also been observed in several staff survey indicators, including a reduction in the proportion of staff reporting experiences of harassment, bullying or abuse at work from patients, relatives or the public, as well as from managers and colleagues.
While these improvements are welcome, further analysis is required to fully understand the underlying factors influencing the results and to identify any emerging trends or areas of concern.
The trust remains committed to addressing disability-related inequalities and reducing disparities in staff experience, opportunity and career progression across our diverse workforce.
The detailed analysis and presentation of WDES data to relevant governance groups and workstreams will continue to be a key mechanism for identifying areas requiring targeted action, enabling the development and implementation of evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes for disabled staff.
In the document
- Trust requirements
- WDES indicators 2026
- Key findings for 2026
- Conclusion and next steps
Click the link below to view our full NHS Workforce Disability Equality Standard 2026.
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