By Dr Caroline Mason Mohan, Director of Public Health, National Screening Service
We recently took part in an international workshop focused on the International Standards for Equity in Healthcare.
The event brought together healthcare organisations from across Europe and beyond to share practical experience of how equity can be built into everyday service planning, delivery and quality improvement.
Our presentation focused on how we have built and embedded equity into our strategy in the HSE National Screening Service, and what we have learned along the way.
About the workshop
The workshop was organised by the Migration, Equity & Diversity Task Force of the International Network of Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services (HPH). The HPH is a global network of hospitals and healthcare services, sponsored by the World Health Organization, and the HSE has been a member for over 20 years.
The day focused on:
- using the equity standards as a quality improvement tool
- sharing real-world examples of good practice
- supporting organisations to move from commitment to action.
What we shared at the workshop
Our presentation explored how equity has been built into our strategic planning, rather than being treated as a standalone or optional activity.
We reflected on:
- how equity has shaped the development of our strategy
- the role of senior leadership in supporting this work
- the importance of relationships, communication and persistence.
Our learnings
Some of the main learnings we shared with workshop participants included:
- Equity takes time: Embedding equity into planning is a system change. It requires patience, consistency and long-term commitment.
- Leadership matters: Visible support from senior managers helps equity become part of ‘how we do things’, not an add-on.
- Relationships and communication are critical: Understanding what people need, listening, and explaining why equity matters makes change more achievable.
- Show, don’t just tell: It helps to demonstrate how equity can be achieved in practice and to highlight the benefits for both screening participants and staff.
- Use tools and frameworks: Practical tools, evidence, patient voices and clear frameworks help people move from intention to action.
- Build equity into everyday documents: Strategies, plans, policies and reports all provide opportunities to make equity visible and measurable.
- Support people to act: When teams understand equity and feel supported, they can take ownership and lead change.
- Keep going: Progress is not always linear. Persistence matters.
Equity is central to delivering person-centred, effective and trusted screening services. Learn more about our work to improve equity in screening.
About the International Standards for Equity in Healthcare
These standards are a practical framework designed to help healthcare organisations assess and improve how well they meet the needs of diverse and disadvantaged groups.
They are:
- an international benchmarking tool
- used by healthcare services in over 25 countries
- focused on both service delivery and employment practices.
They are built around five core areas:
- Equity in policy: making sure equity is built into governance, leadership and decision-making
- Equitable access and utilisation: identifying and reducing barriers to care
- Equitable quality of care: responding to different needs along the care pathway
- Equity in participation: supporting meaningful involvement of service users and communities
- Promoting equity: working in partnership and advocating for change beyond the organisation
Organisations use the standards to:
- carry out a structured self-assessment
- identify areas of strength and gaps
- develop quality improvement plans
- share learning with other services nationally and internationally.
For more information, contact the Task Force at Diversity.HR@hse.ie