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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 2024-2025 – Related Resources
Alternative Formats of A Fairer NHSGGC 2024-2025

A Fairer NHSGGC 2024-25 is available in other formats such as easy read, large print, British Sign Language DVD and alternative languages. Please contact us with your request.  

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.

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

Learn Basic British Sign Language (BSL)

Our popular beginner’s BSL classes are once again being offered to NHSGGC staff.

The 6 week course will be held at various locations across NHSGGC from March 2024. Dates will be announced soon.

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 offered on a first come first served basis. Please speak to your line manager first before applying.

Please do commit and attend classes every week. If you do not attend the first class, a place will be offered to someone else.

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 2023 and will take place on MS Teams. To book, simply follow the Webropol link.

Equality Impact Assessment (EQIAs)

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 MS training date is still available for 2023/24 and will take place on MS Teams. To book, simply follow the links below.

The following training dates are available for 2024 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.

To book a place, please click on the link for the relevant venue, date and time.

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

Understanding Domestic Violence – training for Healthcare Support Workers

With 1 in 5 people experiencing Domestic Abuse at some point in their life, Healthcare Support Workers are likely to encounter patients who voluntarily disclose this and other forms of Gender-Based Violence.

ASC training has been developed and delivered by Medics Against Violence to raise awareness and knowledge around Domestic Abuse. It aims to give participants the confidence to respond appropriately to a voluntary disclosure of Domestic Abuse.

All NHSGGC Healthcare Support Workers are encouraged to attend. A range of dates and venues are available and the course lasts approximately 3 hours.

If you are interested in this opportunity please discuss with your line manager. Places will be allocated in the order they are received.

Registration for the training dates is now open and can be completed using the links below:

You will receive confirmation of a training place by email.

More information about Gender Based Violence can be found here: Gender-Based Violence & Human Trafficking – NHSGGC

For any further information about these learning opportunities, 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

Coming soon

  • British Sign Language Awareness
  • Gender Based Violence
  • Sight Loss Awareness
  • More resources on employment practice and employability support

More information will become available on this section as we move across information from our old website. Please check back soon for more additions to this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Your Right When Using the NHS?

By law, the healthcare you receive should:

  • Consider your needs
  • Consider what would most benefit your health and wellbeing
  • Encourage you to take part in decisions about your health and wellbeing and provide you with the information and support to do so.

You also have the right to give feedback, comments, raise concerns or complaints about the care you have received. 
The following fact-sheets will tell you more about your rights and responsibilities.

What You Should Expect

What Will You Be Asked When Using the NHS?

If the NHS could know a bit more about our patients – a bit more about their individual needs and preferences rather than just their medical condition or history – it’s likely that we could provide a better service. This is not just about gathering information – it is about making sure we are working with individuals, families and communities, rather then just providing identical treatment for everyone.

By law, we are asked to collect patient information on age, sex, disability, ethnicity, religion / belief and sexual orientation. This personal information is collected by staff in NHS hospitals, GP surgeries and other health centres. It is then used to ensure we are meeting the needs of our patient groups and for planning future services.

You might wonder why you are asked for some additional personal information. We know that a patient’s health is often affected by good or bad things happening in their lives. Most patients don’t know that it is helpful for us to know about these things or won’t feel comfortable or confident enough to bring such matters up themselves.

For this reason, our staff in many services are asking all patients about social circumstances that may be affecting your health or preventing you from getting the best out of the treatment we are offering.

For example, staff might ask whether you have money worries, trouble finding work, problems at home or in your relationships, or if you feel you are being treated badly or unfairly because e.g. you belong to a particular ethnic group, you have a disability, because of your sexuality etc.

It is up to you what you choose to tell staff when they ask about these things. Sometimes, if you want us to, we can share the information with other services or people so that you can get support or help in dealing with the issue.

Further Information