{"id":55,"date":"2026-07-23T16:12:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T15:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/?page_id=55"},"modified":"2026-07-23T16:12:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T15:12:39","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/","title":{"rendered":"Disabled Employee Network (DEN)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-fsb-flexible-spacer fsb-flexible-spacer\"><div class=\"fsb-flexible-spacer__device fsb-flexible-spacer__device--lg\" style=\"margin-bottom:-50px\"><\/div><div class=\"fsb-flexible-spacer__device fsb-flexible-spacer__device--md\" style=\"margin-bottom:-50px\"><\/div><div class=\"fsb-flexible-spacer__device fsb-flexible-spacer__device--sm\" style=\"margin-bottom:-50px\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);max-width:1520px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:50px;padding-bottom:50px;min-height:700px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92{background-image:url('https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/10\/uniforms.jpg');background-size:cover;background-position:50% 15%;background-attachment:scroll;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.54;background:linear-gradient(24deg, #400000 34%, #ffffff 52%);mix-blend-mode:multiply;}.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 ,.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 h1,.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 h2,.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 h3,.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 h4,.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 h5,.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 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65%);mix-blend-mode:multiply;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;background-image:url('https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/10\/uniforms.jpg');background-size:cover;background-position:77% 1%;background-attachment:scroll;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;min-height:400px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;background:#cf2e2e;mix-blend-mode:multiply;}.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}.kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id55_7bb88a-92 alignfull has-standard-black-background-color kt-row-has-bg fullstretch wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-layout-overlay kt-row-overlay-gradient\"><\/div><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-middle\">\n<style>.kadence-column55_49a07b-2b > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column55_49a07b-2b > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column55_49a07b-2b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column55_49a07b-2b > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column55_49a07b-2b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column55_49a07b-2b > .kt-inside-inner-col > 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(max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column55_49a07b-2b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column55_49a07b-2b > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column55_49a07b-2b{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column55_49a07b-2b{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column55_49a07b-2b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column55_49a07b-2b, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column55_49a07b-2b:not(.specificity){margin-right:0px;margin-left:0px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column55_49a07b-2b inner-column-1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-97902dbe\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-816a1f5b\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-816a1f5b\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);max-width:1150px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:30px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4{border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;overflow:clip;isolation:isolate;}.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;}.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;background-color:#323031;mix-blend-mode:normal;}.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 ,.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 h1,.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 h2,.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 h3,.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 h4,.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 h5,.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 h6{color:#fff;}.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:20px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:0px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;min-height:0px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;opacity:0.75;background:#323031;mix-blend-mode:multiply;}.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}.kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id55_3db084-b4 alignfull kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-layout-overlay kt-row-overlay-normal\"><\/div><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-middle\">\n<style>.kadence-column55_1642ff-04 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column55_1642ff-04 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kadence-column55_1642ff-04 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column55_1642ff-04 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column55_1642ff-04 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column55_1642ff-04 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column55_1642ff-04 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column55_1642ff-04{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column55_1642ff-04{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column55_1642ff-04 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column55_1642ff-04 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column55_1642ff-04{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column55_1642ff-04{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column55_1642ff-04{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column55_1642ff-04 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column55_1642ff-04 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column55_1642ff-04 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column55_1642ff-04{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column55_1642ff-04{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column55_1642ff-04 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column55_1642ff-04, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column55_1642ff-04:not(.specificity){margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column55_1642ff-04 inner-column-1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-a3702cf4 gb-headline-text\">Disabled Employee Network (DEN)<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-8c8dedd7 gb-headline-text\">The aim of the Disabled Employee Network (DEN) is to encourage contact, support and friendship among any member of staff that self identifies as having an impairment or disability, bringing together diverse staff from across&nbsp;NHS Lothian.<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-7f5acd1d\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-7f5acd1d\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);max-width:1150px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:30px;padding-right:50px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:50px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08{border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;overflow:clip;isolation:isolate;}.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;}.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;background-color:#323031;mix-blend-mode:normal;}.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 ,.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 h1,.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 h2,.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 h3,.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 h4,.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 h5,.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 h6{color:#fff;}.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:20px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:30px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;min-height:0px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;opacity:0.00;background:#400000;mix-blend-mode:multiply;}.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}.kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id55_599e8e-08 alignfull kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-layout-overlay kt-row-overlay-normal\"><\/div><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-middle\">\n<style>.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column55_c3b679-8e{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column55_c3b679-8e{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column55_c3b679-8e{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column55_c3b679-8e, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column55_c3b679-8e:not(.specificity){margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column55_c3b679-8e inner-column-1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-fsb-flexible-spacer fsb-flexible-spacer\"><div class=\"fsb-flexible-spacer__device fsb-flexible-spacer__device--lg\" style=\"height:260px\"><\/div><div class=\"fsb-flexible-spacer__device fsb-flexible-spacer__device--md\" style=\"height:260px\"><\/div><div class=\"fsb-flexible-spacer__device fsb-flexible-spacer__device--sm\" style=\"height:300px\"><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-light-accent-grey-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 40%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><sup><sub><strong>NHS LOTHIAN | STAFF NETWORKS<\/strong><\/sub><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading colourtextbold\">Disabled Employee Network (DEN)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Around 40% of the workforce have some form of impairment \u2013 some lesser and others higher \u2013 which can impact on their working and personal lives.&nbsp;The social model of disability sees the person first and argues that the barriers people face, in combination with their impairments, are what disables them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"417\" src=\"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/DEN-logo-transparent-1024x417.png\" alt=\"Disabled Employee Network logo\" class=\"wp-image-390\" style=\"width:458px;height:185px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/DEN-logo-transparent-1024x417.png 1024w, https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/DEN-logo-transparent-300x122.png 300w, https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/DEN-logo-transparent-768x313.png 768w, https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/DEN-logo-transparent-1536x626.png 1536w, https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/DEN-logo-transparent-1520x619.png 1520w, https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/DEN-logo-transparent.png 1870w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Disabled Employee Network (DEN) welcomes any member of NHS Lothian staff who identifies as disabled, neurodivergent, or with a long-term health condition. You don&#8217;t need a formal diagnosis, and you don&#8217;t need to disclose your condition to your line manager or to other DEN members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensadvice.org.uk\/law-and-courts\/discrimination\/check-if-youre-protected-from-discrimination\/what-counts-as-disability\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What counts as disability<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The aim of DEN is to encourage contact, support and friendship among members of staff who self identify as having an impairment or disability, bringing together diverse staff from across&nbsp;NHS Lothian into an environment where issues of disability can be discussed in confidence and where advice and information can be sought.&nbsp;DEN will raise the profile of disability in NHS Lothian in a staff centred way.&nbsp;DEN will research best practice on workplace disability and will gather members&#8217; experiences to better inform NHS Lothian on how best practice can benefit organisational goals and foster good employee relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Meetings<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">All meetings take place in our <a href=\"https:\/\/teams.microsoft.com\/l\/team\/19%3AEaxYVc4JeqCB0U2dARP_7pSmVoT_-v53RUo60VYMSgU1%40thread.tacv2\/conversations?groupId=cc1cf773-8f9f-41f6-b688-5ad0b0ce0094&amp;tenantId=10efe0bd-a030-4bca-809c-b5e6745e499a\">Teams channel<\/a>.&nbsp;Contact us if you would&nbsp;like&nbsp;to receive the Teams invitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Next meeting:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our next meeting is\u00a0<strong>Thursday 27 August<\/strong> at <strong>5pm<\/strong>. This is a change from our usual evening time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Future meetings:&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Thursday 17 September at 12.30pm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thursday 22 October at 6pm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monday 16 November at 12.30pm (NB: we&#8217;re trying a different day of the week!)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thursday 10 December at 6pm<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/10\/uniform2.jpg\" alt=\"Member of NHS staff in mid-blue uniform\" class=\"wp-image-355 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/10\/uniform2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/10\/uniform2-188x300.jpg 188w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-light-accent-grey-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center alignwide colourtextbold latest\">DEN Chairs Blog<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Closing Disability Pride Month 2026: My drop<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">by Emma Chalmers, DEN co-chair<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we come to the end of Disability Pride Month for 2026, I come to this blog with thoughts. Some well-formed, some chaotic, all are mine, but I suspect a bunch of you will vibe with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So here goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m tired. Like to the depths of my soul, can\u2019t see the end, bone tired. I\u2019m tired of watching people in power around the world make life harder for almost everyone, whilst benefiting so few. I\u2019m tired of wars and genocides occurring right now, that will be creating more disabled people and knowing what those people will face for the rest of their lives when fighting for everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m tired of the fight. I\u2019m tired of masking and the exhaustion that brings. I\u2019m tired of showing bigots and ableists that I contribute just as much, if not more, to society than them. I\u2019m tired of seeing my peers who are marginalised in other ways go through the same fights over and over again. I\u2019m tired of a world that acts as though dog-eat-dog is the only way to live and spreading kindness is some sort of weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m tired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that\u2019s ok. Positivity takes you so far but with the world on fire (literally in some places) at the moment, it\u2019s ok that I feel it. I don\u2019t think I\u2019d make a very good co-chair to this network if I didn\u2019t feel for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I think what is important now is how I use these feelings. The temptation to hide under a blanket fort on my sofa, eating ice cream and watching old re-reruns of ER is <strong>strong<\/strong> right now but how will that help me or others? Not to mention, the lactose allergy would really mean I was in trouble!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m allowed to grieve for the way the world is right now but as a human being, I have a responsibility to myself and others to try to tip the balance back towards the positive. My drop in that vast ocean will be minute, microscopic and might feel entirely worthless. But if even a quarter of the people on earth add their drops- well, that\u2019s a mighty fine sized ocean. Two billion drops of light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, I\u2019ll work out what my drop looks like and use it. Maybe it\u2019s keeping on with the DEN work. Maybe its attending a peaceful protest to support my trans brothers and sisters. Maybe its boycotting companies that I know back genocidal authorities. Maybe it\u2019s making a sad friend a cup of tea and offering them a space in my blanket fort. My drop won\u2019t be huge. But maybe the ripple it forms will be. And that\u2019s ok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-cbcdc57d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/den-chairs-blog-archive\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blog archive<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull fullstretch has-light-accent-plum-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-40eee20a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Contact Us<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Contact us to be added to the mailing list and receive the Teams&nbsp;link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons downlink is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-cbcdc57d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"mailto:loth.disabilitynetwork@nhs.scot\">Email Disabled Employee Network<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-fsb-flexible-spacer fsb-flexible-spacer\"><div class=\"fsb-flexible-spacer__device fsb-flexible-spacer__device--lg\" style=\"margin-bottom:-190px\"><\/div><div class=\"fsb-flexible-spacer__device fsb-flexible-spacer__device--md\" style=\"margin-bottom:-190px\"><\/div><div class=\"fsb-flexible-spacer__device fsb-flexible-spacer__device--sm\" style=\"margin-bottom:-190px\"><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NHS LOTHIAN | STAFF NETWORKS Disabled Employee Network (DEN) Around 40% of the workforce have some form of impairment &ndash; some lesser and others higher &ndash; which can impact on<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/noorangewidewidth.php","meta":{"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-55","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"stephenharris","author_link":"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/author\/stephenharris\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":false,"rttpg_excerpt":"NHS LOTHIAN | STAFF NETWORKS Disabled Employee Network (DEN) Around 40% of the workforce have some form of impairment &ndash; some lesser and others higher &ndash; which can impact on","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55"}],"version-history":[{"count":63,"href":"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":587,"href":"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55\/revisions\/587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staff.nhslothian.scot\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}