Developing an inclusive language guide - a Pan-London initiative
The Pan-London Pharmacy EDI Group has developed a practical Inclusive Language Guide to support pharmacy professionals in communicating respectfully and effectively with colleagues, patients, and communities from diverse backgrounds. Language shapes workplace culture, influences patient trust, and can either reinforce or challenge structural inequities. Despite growing awareness of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) within healthcare, pharmacy teams often lack accessible guidance on everyday terminology that supports inclusion while avoiding unintended harm. This initiative responds to that gap by creating a concise, practice-focused guide centred on three key communities frequently underrepresented in professional guidance: neurodivergent individuals, LGBTQ+ people, and those from global majority backgrounds. Developed collaboratively by members of the Pan-London Pharmacy EDI Group, the guide compiles phrases to use and language to avoid, alongside explanation of why terminology matters. The resource encourages reflective communication practices and highlights the importance of person-centred language in both clinical and professional environments. The session will present the development process, including stakeholder input. Attendees will be introduced to the structure of the guide, examples of inclusive and non-inclusive phrasing and practical strategies for embedding inclusive communication into pharmacy practice, education, and leadership. By sharing this resource and the learning from its development, the session aims to support pharmacy teams in fostering psychologically safe workplaces and more equitable patient interactions. Ultimately, inclusive language is positioned not as a compliance exercise, but as a core professional skill that strengthens compassion, collaboration, and culturally responsive care across settings

