Patrick Vernon

Patrick Vernon Addresses the Launch of the Equity Charter Community of Practice

Patrick Vernon OBE spoke at the launch of the Equity Charter Community of Practice, a gathering of leaders and advocates committed to making digital health truly equitable.

He reflected on his journey, from creating early digital platforms like Every Generation and 100 Great Black Britons, to chairing COVID-19 investigations that exposed how bias in tools such as oximeters and NHS 111 shaped life-and-death outcomes.

Patrick also highlighted his work as Chair of the Birmingham & Solihull ICB, where he helped embed racial equity into the NHS through initiatives such as the £20m Future Fairer Fund, a 17-point Anti-Racism Pledge with BRIG, and using social value procurement to hold providers accountable for tackling inequality.

Patrick called for courage to speak truth to power, to design inclusively, and to use the Equity Charter as an anchor for rights in a world that remains unequal.

Drawing on Afrofuturism, he urged the audience to imagine a future where Black and minoritised communities are not just included, but are co-authors of the digital age.

We cannot hide inequity behind innovation.
Digital health must advance justice, not just technology.

Thanks to the team for bringing this important work forward.