Living by our values: Tackling skin tone bias and inspiring inclusion
The new Trust values are Accountability, Inclusion, Compassion, and Empowerment. These have been designed by our staff to guide our behaviours, shape care delivery, and help us build trusted relationships with patients, communities, and each other.
Our values were published in our new Trust Strategy 2025-30 which launched in July 2025 and support our mission to enable thriving communities that give our children the best start in life and adults greater independence.
The value of inclusion means that we respect differences and ensure all voices are heard in decision-making and adapt care as required to meet the diverse needs of our communities.
It is widely recognised that systemic biases contribute to unequal outcomes across healthcare, with disparities due to ethnicity highlighted as a particular issue. With regards to wound care, a growing body of evidence suggests patients with dark skin tones are less likely to receive early assessment and diagnosis which can result in delayed healing and complications such as late stage pressure ulcers and infections. This inequality exists because there is a poor understanding of how wounds manifest in dark skin as the language used around wounds and training materials are often focused on light skin. At CLCh, staff took the initiative to change this narrative and develop more inclusive practices for wound care.
With clinical leadership from Mikko Enoc and Agnes Collarte in the Inner North West (INW) Division Tissue Viability team, and Elizabeth Emerson in the North Central (NC) Division, staff were trained on how to use a skin tone assessment tool to aid accurate assessment and diagnosis in all skin tones, optimising patient care and improving outcomes. This project has been rolled out across Tissue Viability, District Nursing, Walk-In Centres and Podiatry services in the INW Division and the North Central Division. Tissue Viability Link Nurses, like Karen Beckwith, have been trained as wound care champions and supported by the Practice Development Nurses such as Jerome Caducoy to embed this new practice locally.
The project received a Highly Commended award at the Northwest London Health Equity Awards, which are hosted by Northwest London Integrated Care System and these efforts exemplify how innovative practices and collaboration can drive meaningful change and a more inclusive healthcare system.
Wound Care Champion and Tissue Viability Nurse in the North Central Division, Karen Beckwith shared what the value of inclusion means to her and how this inspires her approach to healthcare:
“I use the value of inclusion as a wound care champion to support our communities more equitably. I train staff across local nursing homes, highlighting how skin conditions present differently on diverse skin tones.
“Using inclusive resources and representative images, I help colleagues recognise symptoms in every patient, ensuring more accurate, timely care for all.”
Lorraine Norrie, Fiona Ramnuth, Shanice Walker (North Central Tissue Viability Nursing Team), Inner North West Tissue Viability Nursing Team (featured photo above)
