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The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 was brought in to strengthen and streamline 40 years of equalities legislation. The act covers the following protected characteristics.

To view the full Equality Act, click the link below to the UK Government website

NHSGGC’s has produced a guide to the Equality Act 2010 which sets out the manager’s role in applying legislation to support both staff and patients. Equality Law – A Manager’s Guide to Getting it Right in NHSGGC provides procedural advice and examples for operational managers and those with responsibility for service planning and design.

Equality Law and Discrimination is a series of short films produced by the Equality & Human Rights Commission, which are available on YouTube.

Meeting the requirements of the Equality Act 2010

We are required to produce a regular reports on how we are going to meet the requirements of equality legislation. To view these documents in various formats, please go to our A Fairer NHSGGC page.

Human Rights

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP) SNAP 2 is Scotland’s second national human rights action plan. Its vision is a Scotland where everyone can live with human dignity. SNAP 2 was published on 30 March 2023 and runs to 2030..

Human Rights in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (PDF)

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This page aims to provide information and signposting to families in relation to breastfeeding and infant feeding. If you need further information, advice or if you are experiencing any difficulties with breastfeeding or feeding your baby, please make contact with Your Midwife, Health Visitor, Family Nurse, or GP in the first instance.

NHSGGC has an updated Infant Feeding Policy

The purpose of the Infant Feeding Policy is to support staff to deliver appropriate advice and intervention with parents and families to provide optimum infant nutrition from the antenatal period and for the first 12 months of a baby’s life. By supporting optimum infant feeding practices, the policy promotes the development of close and loving relationships between parent and baby. NHSGGC are committed to providing support and information tailored to meet the needs of every family.
You can read the updated policy here NHSGGC Infant Feeding Policy Jan 26 – NHSGGC

Parent Club

Parent Club has useful information on feeding your baby:

Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Support

Breastfeeding

The Breastfeeding Network offer a range of support groups which are open to any mum in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

For more information about Infant feeding support in NHS GGC please see Finding breastfeeding support | Parent Club and the interactive map here: Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland – Google My Maps

The National Breastfeeding Helpline – Helpline offers both telephone and web chat services Tel 0300 100 0212 open 24 hours per day.

You can access the same support in Polish or Welsh via the same number – 0300 100 0212 – press 1 for support in Welsh or 2 for support in Polish. Call 0300 456 2421 for support in Bengali and Sylheti.

It also offers support in British Sign Language. Users in Scotland can contact the helpline via contact SCOTLAND-BSL.

You can access the same support in Polish or Welsh via the same number – 0300 100 0212 – press 1 for support in Welsh or 2 for support in Polish. Call 0300 456 2421 for support in Bengali and Sylheti.

Information about Infant feeding support in NHS GGC can be found on the Parent Club Website please see Finding breastfeeding support | Parent Club and the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland interactive map.

For Information about feeding when out and about continuing to breastfeed if going back to work, please go to Getting out and about while breastfeeding | Parent Club and Breastfeeding and returning to work | Parent Club. There is also a helpful leaflet below with more tips and information.

NHSGGC hosts the National Milk Bank for Scotland. Visit our pages for more information on the service and if you would be interested in become in breastmilk donor.

Breastfeeding In Neonatal Care: Your breastmilk is very important if your baby is born too soon, is very small or is sick. For more information on breastfeeding, or providing breastmilk for your baby if born too soon visit: RHCG – Neonatal infant feeding.

Formula Feeding

Public Health Scotland produce a helpful leaflet in a range of languages called Formula Feeding: How to feed your baby safely. The link for this can be found below.

The recommendations for formula fed infants is that a first infant milk (may be referred to as first stage formula or stage 1 milk) is recommended throughout the first year of life. There are no requirement to move onto a hungry baby milk, or follow on formula. It can be confusing as to which brand of first infant milk to buy for your baby due to the range available on the market. Please be reassured that by law, all Infant formula milks must have the same composition. This means that any first infant milk would be suitable and there is no need to buy more expensive brands of Infant milk. First Steps Nutrition Trust have published a range of very useful information: Infant milks for parents & carers — First Steps Nutrition Trust.

Once your baby reaches the age of 1 year, pasteurised whole milk and semi-skimmed cow’s milk can be given to them as their main drink as could pasteurised goats and sheep’s milk. For children aged 1-5 years use of growing up or toddler milks is not recommended. For more information please see Milks marketed for children — First Steps Nutrition Trust.

Responsive bottle feeding is a great for you or your partner to have time with your baby. Keeping you baby close by helps you to pick up their cues for feeding or attention, Learning your baby’s cues | Parent Club. During feeds, holding your baby close, looking into their eyes and talking to them gently helps they feel safe and secure. It’s important to also look out for signs during a feed that your baby is full so they are not getting too much milk. For more information, see Infant-formula-and-responsive-bottle-feeding.pdf. NHS Tayside has also developed a YouTube Video on responsive bottle feeding.

For further information and advice or if you have any concerns about formula feeding your baby, please speak to your health visitor, family nurse or GP.

General information and support for families

Happy Healthy Tots

NHSGGC health visiting and family nurse teams have launched the Happy Health Tots APP Happy Healthy Tots | Right Decisions

Information on how to download the app can be found here: Download the RDS App from the app stores | Right Decisions.

Parent Club

The Parent Club website has lots of excellent information on a range of topics for families

Global Health Media

Provides a range of videos for Breastfeeding English Language Videos – Global Health Media Project. These can be watched in English and also selected to be watched in a range of other languages.

Ready Steady Baby

Ready Steady Baby Your guide to pregnancy, labour and birth and early parenthood up to 8 weeks.

UNICEF

UNICEF have a range of useful resources for parents on infant feeding and relationship building, as well as information on overcoming common breastfeeding challenges. Printable resources in other languages are available.

First Steps Nutrition Trust

First Steps Nutrition Trust is an independent public health nutrition charity that provides information and resources to support eating well from pre-conception to five years.

Starting Solids

Starting Solids has produced a range of helpful videos for when you are introducing solids foods to your baby at around 6 months Starting Solids – NHSGGC.

There are also a range of Starting Solids Sessions delivered face to face or online across NHSGGC. Further details can be found via the Happy Health Tots app.

Vitamin D

Information about our Vitamin D scheme including details of the free vitamin D supplements available to those who are breastfeeding, and children under 3 years within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

Henry

The HENRY programme aims to support families of children aged 0-12 years and engage the whole family in adopting healthier eating and lifestyle habits. HENRY addresses a range of areas that are relevant to families including, but not limited to, parenting, well-being, self-esteem and confidence, portion sizes, healthy food swaps, getting active as a family, food groups, and food labelling.

Best Start Foods Benefit

Pregnant women and families who have children aged up to three years old on low income might be entitled to Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods – mygov.scot benefits. There are also a range of other benefits families may be able to access Children and family – mygov.scot.

Finances

Please speak to your Midwife, Health Visitor or Family Nurse if you are worried about money.

Booklets

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Equality Impact Assessments are a means of showing how NHSGGC shows ‘due regard’ to the Equality Act 2010 when writing new policies, creating new services or making changes to existing services.

This means that we work in a way that removes discrimination, promotes equality of opportunity and fosters good relations between people who have a protected characteristic and people who don’t

Conducting EQIAs is a legal duty for NHSGGC and helps us provide services that are sensitive to inequalities and meet the needs of our diverse community.

If you’ve been asked to undertake an EQIA in your service area you need to book onto a Lead Reviewers training session before starting. Click on the button below for more information and dates.

Finding Equality Impact Assessments

Can’t find what you were looking for? Press ‘Ctrl’ and ‘F’ at the same time

Type the word you want to find in the window, e.g. ‘CHCP’, ‘Yorkhill’, ‘Strategy’, ‘receiving’

You can also contact equality@ggc.scot.nhs.uk or call 0141 201 4560

Please note: NHSGGC’s commitment to equality impact assess services and policies pre-dates The 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012. As a result, some terminology used within earlier assessments may not match current legislative terminology.

EQIA – realtimefeedback

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EQIA SAER Policy 2025

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Workforce Strategy 2025-2030

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TAPFLO EQIA November 2025

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Ward 36 EQIA

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Workforce Strategy 2025-2030

259.48 KB 1151 Downloads

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Information and services to help support you in making sure your baby or toddler has the best start in their early years.

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Meeting the Requirements of Equality Legislation

Laws are now in place which are designed to protect people from unfair discrimination due to their personal characteristics. Referred to as ‘protected characteristics’, these include age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, sex, race, religion & belief and sexual orientation.

‘A Fairer NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’ explains how the organisation will uphold the law by addressing inequalities. This means, for example, making sure that services are working well for everyone and that people are getting information in a way they can understand. The document also covers people’s right not to be discriminated against in the workplace. It includes the organisation’s:

  • Progress on mainstreaming equality into NHSGGC 
  • Equality Outcomes

More Information

A Fairer NHSGGC 2025-2029 – Related Resources
Alternative Formats of A Fairer NHSGGC 2025-2029

A Fairer NHSGGC 2025-29 is available in other formats such as easy read, large print, British Sign Language DVD and alternative languages. Please contact us with your request.  

Easy Read summary of A Fairer NHSGGC 2025-2029

British Sign Language summary of A Fairer NHSGGC 2025-2029

Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)

EQIA is a vital part of NHSGGC’s overall approach to dealing with inequalities and discrimination. It means that services, policies and projects are thought about carefully in terms of their likely impact on different groups of people and on the various aspects of inequality.

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The links listed on this page are NOT controlled by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.  We take no responsibility for the contents, reliability or availability of the websites and we may not agree with views expressed within them.

Age
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Carers
Deaf Organisations
Diabetes
Disability
Employment
Gender-Based Violence
Gender Reassignment
General
Health Information
Legislation
Mental Health
Race
Religion and Belief
Sexual Health
Sexual Orientation
Social Class
Sex

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Learn Basic British Sign Language (BSL)

Please note that some of the BSL classes scheduled to commence April/May have had to be withdrawn due to issues outwith our control.

Staff members on our existing waiting list have been contacted by email. If you have not received an email and still wish to book a place on this course, please click on the relevant link below to register for a place. Please do this even if you previously completed an expression of interest Webropol form.

The 6-week courses will be held at the QEUH and Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Classes offer an insight into how Deaf people communicate and cover the alphabet, how to introduce yourself, colours, numbers and role playing.

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please speak to your line manager before applying.

It is important to commit to the 6 weeks. Please be aware that if you do not attend the first class, your place will be offered to someone else.

QEUH Tuesdays 12.30pm-1.30pm, commencing 28th April 2026

QEUH Thursdays 12.30pm-1.30pm, commencing 30th April 2026

GRI Tuesdays 5pm-6pm, commencing 5th May 2026

GRI Wednesdays 5pm-6pm, commencing 6th May 2026

Hate Crime Awareness

This short session gives participants an understanding of what hate crime is and how to report if witnessed in the workplace. It is an important safeguarding learning opportunity for all members of staff working in frontline roles. For further information on hate crime and the NHSGGC response, visit our Hate Crime page.

The following dates are available for 2026 and will take place on MS Teams. To book, simply follow the Webropol link.

Equality Impact Assessments assess all organisational activity – including policy, plans, projects, service delivery and practice – in order to identify actions to address discrimination and promote equality.

Conducting EQIAs is a legal duty for NHSGGC and helps us provide services that are sensitive to inequalities and meet the needs of our diverse community.

Information for NHSGGC Staff

If you’ve been asked to undertake an EQIA in your service area you need to book onto a Lead Reviewers training session before starting.

The following training dates are available for 2026 and will take place on MS Teams. Please click on your preferred date.

For further information, please contact equality@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

How to use the NHSGGC Interpreting Service

Our interpreting service provides a range of services and resources for patients whose first language is not English and who may need communication support in a health setting. Support is also available for patients who are Deaf, hard of hearing, blind or deafblind.

It is the responsibility of NHSGGC staff to arrange interpreting support for patients using any of our healthcare services. It is therefore vital that staff know how to access the support available.

Training includes information on: how to use telephone interpreting; accessing BSL Online interpreting; booking face to face interpreters, requesting translations and direct patient access to telephone interpreting.

Sessions are run on Microsoft Teams. To book a place, please click on the link for the relevant date and time.

For more information please contact equality@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

TURAS

New on Turas Learn – the ‘Equality and Diversity Zone’

NHS Education for Scotland is pleased to announce the launch of the Equality and Diversity Zone on Turas Learn, NHS Education for Scotland’s platform for learning and support resources.

The Equality and Diversity Zone provides information and resources to support people at all levels to develop knowledge and skills in equality, diversity and human rights.

The resources you find here will help you to make your practice, services and workplace more accessible and inclusive, supporting better experience and outcomes.

We host and curate content from NHS Education for Scotland, NHS Boards, and other key partners on a Once for Scotland basis to make these resources as accessible as possible.

In the zone you will find:

  • information on equality duties, human rights and related tools and topics
  • a range of educational resources, including eLearning modules, guides and frameworks.

Users can access many of the resources directly at https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/3480/equality-and-diversity.

Anyone who works or volunteers in or with the public sector in Scotland (including third/voluntary sector or if you work in care homes, care at home or day care) can sign up for a Turas account. Log in with your Turas account to access eLearning modules and record the eLearning on your personal learning record.

Whether you are a student, support worker, clinician, administrator, project manager or Board member, there will be something for everyone.

Log into the Zone and you will find learning and practice support for:

  • Augmentative and alternative communication
  • Making communication even better
  • Corporate Parenting
  • Dementia and equality
  • Deaf awareness
  • Equal Partners in Care: Carer Aware, Caring Together
  • Equality, diversity and human rights
  • Equality impact assessment and planning for equality
  • Equality law and legal duties
  • The Fairer Scotland Duty
  • Health literacy and reducing health inequalities
  • Human rights
  • Human trafficking
  • Learning disabilities and equality
  • LGBT People and Public Services: Good Practice
  • Trauma, mental health and suicide prevention

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Best Practice Guidelines

Best Practice Guidelines

Supreme Court Ruling Update – Thursday 17th April 2025

We are currently reviewing our policies in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling on 16 April 2025 that ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex.

Best Practice Guidelines – web pages

Money Worries – Staff guidance on raising the issue with patients and referring for advice

Gender-based Guidelines National Guidance – what health workers need to know

Equality Legislation & Policy

Staff Toolkits
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