Setting the pace on health equality: the Pacesetters programme in Leicester

A founding principle of the 60-year-old National Health Service in the United Kingdom (UK) was a commitment to equal access and treatment for all, regardless of social class, income or status. In keeping with this principle, the Department of Health has launched the Pacesetters programme to reduce inequalities and discrimination experienced by people in some of the UK's increasingly diverse communities when accessing health care. A key theme is to stimulate innovative local schemes involving patients and service users, health professionals and the local community in the design and delivery of services. The programme is being piloted by selected health Trusts in England. Two schemes are described in one Trust in Leicester. The first involves members of the Traveller and Gypsy communities in becoming health ambassadors, learning about the health services and sharing their knowledge with their communities. Health professionals learn alongside them about Traveller and Gypsy culture and approaches to health. In the second scheme, health professionals are working with the city's Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre to understand how to make the health services more welcoming and appropriate for the lesbian, gay and bisexual community. The three-year pilot schemes will be externally evaluated and may be incorporated in mainstream services if successful.