The Equality Act says you must not be discriminated against in employment because you are married or in a civil partnership.
In the Equality Act marriage and civil partnership means someone who is legally married or in a civil partnership. Marriage can either be between a man and a woman, or between partners of the same sex. Civil partnership is between partners of the same sex.
Following is a short film by the Equality & Human Rights Commission titled ‘What is marriage & civil partnerships discrimination?’.
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What is Age?
Unlike other equality strands age does not refer to a discrete group. We have all been young and will all hopefully become old. Age equality means people of every age can take part in society with respect for differences related to their age.
Age may refer to actual or perceived age – based on appearance or assumptions.
Age and Discrimination
Ageism can be very subtle but is common throughout society; it can affect wellbeing, damage confidence and create exclusion. Individuals can be subject to assumptions and different treatment based on their age or perceived age, no matter how old or young they are.
Older people in particular, are subject to stigma, prejudice and social isolation. Older people are often also the poorest in society, and some are vulnerable to abuse.
Children and young people can also be discriminated against and are viewed with suspicion by society. Their lack of power means that their views are often ignored and they are also vulnerable to abuse.
Discrimination arises either because difference is ignored and therefore people’s needs are not met or difference is recognised but forms the basis of unfavourable treatment or stereotyping.
Age equality means that age should not be used to define or presume anything about the role, value or potential of an individual.
The following video is a short film by the Equality & Human Rights Commission titled ‘What is Age Discrimination’.
Age and Other Protected Characteristics
Age and Other Protected Characteristics
Age discrimination links to other forms of discrimination-
Older people, especially older women are often on low incomes. This is caused by a combination of factors including the state pension not being linked to earnings and women being less likely to have occupational pensions of sufficient level.
Disability increases with age, especially visual impairment and blindness. Approximately three quarters of those registered blind or partially sighted in Scotland are aged 65 or over.
Young people may be discriminated from exploring their sexuality and their gender identity by their family, at school or in hospital. LGBTQ+ young people may be less likely to express their sexuality or their gender identity due to fear of discrimination from family, friends and other young people. This can lead to low self-esteem and serious long-term negative health effects e.g. anxiety, depression and feeling suicidal.
Peer pressure can result in young people concealing their religious beliefs or practices, while overt symbols of faith make young people more likely to be victims of race and religious hate crime.
Ageing may further reduce the ability to communicate for those for whom English is not their first language.
Teenage women living in areas of highest deprivation are four times more likely to become pregnant than those in the least deprived areas. Teenage women from the most deprived areas are more likely to deliver than to terminate their pregnancy. In contrast, those from the least deprived areas are more likely to terminate than to deliver their pregnancy.
The health of older people in Scotland varies according to social circumstances. The gap in life expectancy between the most affluent and deprived communities has widened significantly in the last 40 years, particularly among males. Life expectancy has either stopped increasing or has decreased in almost all council areas since 2012-2014.
Emergency hospital admissions due to unintentional injuries are significantly higher for children living in the most deprived areas, with rates around 40% or more for some groups.
Why age matters to health
Older People
Long life is a sign of good health, and the ageing of the world’s population is an indicator of improving health worldwide. Although there are no specific conditions or illnesses associated with ‘being old’, the older people get the more likely they may be to experience a range of different conditions such as chronic disease, cancer and disability and to experience more than one of these together.
Increased protection for adults at risk of harm or neglect is in place through the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007. While the Act defines adults at risk as those aged 16 years and over, it provides protection to many older people with cognitive impairments such as dementia.
Young People
Healthcare, lifestyle and experience in childhood and adolescence have a significant impact on physical and mental health in later life. Certain conditions particularly affect young people, such as some inherited problems, accidents and injury and sexual and mental health issues, or they may have different experiences of conditions which affect all ages.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) sets out the essential rights of all children. The UNCRC Bill became law in Scotland in 2024 and is used as a framework to ensure that we consider children and young people’s rights whenever we make decisions that may impact on them and to help provide every child with a good start in life and a safe, healthy childhood. It forms the basis of our national approach for supporting children, called Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC). Fulfilling children’s rights is also critical to our commitment to #KeepThePromise that all care experienced children and young people will grow up loved, safe and respected.
All Ages
Traditional assumptions about age related conditions are increasingly being challenged. People with conditions previously associated with childhood, e.g. cystic fibrosis, severe physical disability, are increasingly surviving into adulthood. Similarly, younger people may suffer from conditions previously associated with ‘old age’ such as dementia or the need for social care and support.
Age Discrimination and Health
Age discrimination in health can lead to inappropriate treatment, misdiagnosis or reluctance from patients to get involved with health services. It may take some of the following forms:
Stereotyping of old age as being automatically linked to ill-health
Low expectations of older people’s mental capacity, leading to inappropriate behaviour or symptoms not being believed.
Health or social care support or treatments having upper or lower age limits.
Lack of support or time for meals, resulting in undernourishment
Young people being placed in adult wards
Information not produced with age group in mind
Judgemental attitudes
Confidentiality and anonymity not respected
Abuse or neglect of older or young people, in hospitals, care settings or at home
Denial of the right to make choices about health and personal affairs
How we are addressing age issues
How we are addressing age issues
NHSGGC is working to ensure no-one using our services is discriminated against on grounds of age or any other protected characteristic.
We are also working to raise awareness of the nature of direct and indirect age discrimination and our responsibilities under equalities legislation. We will do this by improving education and training of healthcare professionals on the effects of ageism in clinical care and care settings and by improving patient and carer experience of discharge planning.
Patients aged 81 and older are less likely than younger patients to feel they have been given adequate information about their discharge and what to do about their health if they are worried after leaving hospital. A Fairer NHSGGC 2025-29 highlights our plans to ensure that all people and carers are routinely involved in discharge planning and decisions as part of person centred care.
This will be supported by the application of the Frontline Equality Assessment Tool (FEAT) which has been designed to assess inequalities sensitive practice within frontline services. This involves checking the patient information collected, how communication support is assessed and knowledge of protected characteristic related issues as well as the impact on discharge planning. Within NHSGGC’s frontline services the use of FEAT will contribute to the recognition and sharing of good practice as well as highlighting where improvements in services can be made.
Overall service planning is increasingly taking account of the changing age profile of the population and the impact this will have on demand for services. Awareness of the need to ensure age equality within our services informs this planning process. However, there are circumstances where a targeted approach to specific age groups is appropriate both when providing services and when consulting and involving individuals. For example, Sandyford sexual health services have been designed to ensure that they are accessible to young people and have the confidence of young people.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) sets out the essential rights of all children. The UNCRC Bill became law in Scotland in 2024 and is used as a framework to ensure that we consider children and young people’s rights whenever we make decisions that may impact on them. NHSGGC has incorporated the principles of the new law into our Equality Impact Assessments which are used to ensure our services and policies are meeting the requirements of equality law.
The Equality Act 2010 was brought in to strengthen and streamline 40 years of equalities legislation. The act covers the following protected characteristics.
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.
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..
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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