Valuing Diversity is an educational resource designed to stimulate diversity training in curricula by providing introductory information, materials and suggestions for interactive learning that educators might use, adapt, or develop in their training of health professionals.

Its ultimate aim is to foster a generic approach to diversity by raising awareness and understanding of cultural diversity, racism, and communication, and by encouraging reflection on attitudes.

Packed with useful ideas, tips, exercises and training materials.

Written and developed by those working closely in the field.

Handouts can easily be photocopied for group work and continuous use.

The DVD provides a speedy, safe and stimulating way of entering into discussions about ethnicity in health care.

Provides a great starting point for teacher development in the area of diversity.

New to the second edition:

Updated content, exercises, and materials, with the help of some new contributors.

Several new exercises, (e.g. enabling more discussion of 'identities' and of refugees).

The popular simulated consultations on the DVD remain the same, although they can now also be viewed from a PC or laptop.

This resource is intended for all those involved in healthcare training. It has found uses in medical and nursing schools, and postgraduate training.

It is seven years since Valuing Diversity was first published in 1999 to critical acclaim, winning the BUPA Foundation Medical Communication award in 2000. Experience of teaching and learning to respond to diversity in health care is a little greater since publication of the first edition but models are still evolving. The case for their development and implementation continues to be underscored by concern about inequalities in health and access to quality health care.

Recent events have heightened awareness of the need for such training of health professionals. Such currents create an ever more charged and challenging environment where how we think about, and respond to, cultural diversity is of vital importance.

Reviews of the first edition

'Valuing Diversity has been an excellent resource in developing our programme of cultural and social diversity teaching. It comes packed with useful ideas and tips and really stretched my thinking on the subject. It is not an easy area to teach and not all the exercises will work with any one group of learners but there are so many ideas to choose from which can be adapted to one's own situation'.
Jonathan Silverman, Associate Clinical Dean, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge

'We would have had a lot of difficulty without this resource. The suggestions for small group sessions were really helpful and I was readily able to adapt them to our Graduate Entry Programme. The book is particularly user-friendly and has clearly been written by people who teach at the coalface! The handouts that can be photocopied are a thoughtful addition, while the video helped students develop principles and prepare for practice sessions such as 'working with interpreters'.
Angela Hall, Senior Lecturer, Department of Medical and Health Care Education, St George's Hospital Medical School, London

'This resource provides a great starting point for teacher development in the area of diversity. Clinical and non-clinical teachers can work together on issues which they themselves find difficult and then use activities from the resource in their subsequent work with students'.
Faith Hill, Director of the Medical Education Division, University of Southampton.

'This resource is a unique and invaluable 'toolkit' for facilitating accessible training. I have used it successfully with hospital and community nurses, GPs and bi-lingual workers all of whom have been stimulated to not only reflect on their practice, but also to make changes in their workplace'.
Judith Mullineux, Health Promotion Specialist, Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust

Section 1: Introduction: responding to diversity in health care
Section 2: Outline of training exercises
Section 3: Developing teaching and learning to respond to cultural diversity
Section 4: Guidance for facilitators
Section 5: The nature of culture - valuing diversity and the individual
Section 6: Understanding racism
Section 7: Enhancing communication
Section 8: Working with interpreters and advocates
Section 9: Ethnic diversity in social context
Section 10: Patterns of health and disease
Appendix: Useful sources of reference and information