Local Health board named one of Wales’ most gay-friendly employers

The health board secured the tenth highest score from any Welsh employer in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index, which measures employer’s efforts to tackle discrimination and create inclusive workplaces for staff.

Former Deputy Chief Executive Tracy Myhill was also named the charity’s Role Model of the Year in recognition of her outstanding contribution to equality during her time at the health board.

Chief Executive Adam Cairns said: "We are thrilled to be named as one of Wales' Top 10 Employers.

"Our staff at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board are fully committed to promoting the values of equality and diversity, on behalf of both colleagues and patients. Our motto is 'caring for people, keeping people well' and it is vital that this covers all sections of the richly diverse communities of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

"Since our move up the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index last year, we have all worked extremely hard – with the leadership and support of our equality manager Keithley Wilkinson and the Rainbow Network Forum – to further build on this success.

"As well as raising the Rainbow flag at the University Hospital of Wales for LGBT History Month, the Health Board also won the Staff Recognition Award for Equality, Diversity and Human Rights and supported last year's Pride parade.

"I would like to thank the staff for their continuing hard work and dedication."

Andrew White, Director of Stonewall Cymru, said: “The Workplace Equality Index is designed to challenge and stretch employers and this year we made it tougher than ever by asking for evidence of the impact of employers were having on staff.

“We received more submissions from Wales than ever and, once more, Wales is punching above its weight.

“Our vision is of a Wales where lesbian gay and bisexual people can realise every ounce of their potential. We’re very proud of the employers featured in this list: they are helping make that vision a reality.”