Equality and Diversity
Meeting the health care needs of members of our local equality and diversity communities is an integral part of the comprehensive health care services provided by NHS Orkney. In addition, we also carry out specific targeted work and campaigns to benefit members of these communities.
The Equality Act 2010 defined the 9 “protected characteristics” of equality as:
- Race
- Disability
- Age
- Sex (male or female)
- Sexual orientation
- Gender reassignment
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Religion or belief
Everyone has the legal right to protection from discrimination arising from one or more of these protected characteristics.
Our work in each of these areas is designed to:
- eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited under this Act
- advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it
- foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it
We also take every opportunity to involve people with a protected characteristic in our work, as well as their representative organisations and the wider community of Orkney.
The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 require that public bodies such as NHS Orkney must produce and publish a range of reports at regular intervals. The reports must detail the progress we have made in the area of each protected characteristic, both in the services we provide, and within NHS Orkney. You will find all of these reports under related documents, with other relevant information below.
Meeting your support needs
Why do we need to ask so many questions? We can only help you if you tell us about the type of support you need from us.
Meeting your support needsEquality and Diversity Impact Assessments
*Please note this section is currently being updated*
The Board conducts impact assessments in relation to our equalities duties, on all policies and strategies.
As required by legislation NHS Orkney publishes on its website a list of the policies, strategies and re-organisational proposals which have been Equality and Diversity Impact assessed. Copies of the Rapid Impact Assessment Checklist (RIC) RIC Summary Sheet and Comments Sheet are available on request, for any policy listed. Copies of full EQIA documentation, when this has been undertaken for a policy, strategy or re-organisational proposal, will also be provided.
NHS Orkney documents which have been Equality and Diversity Impact Assessed
- The NHS Orkney Primary Care Improvement Plan 2018-2021, in July 2018
- The NHS Orkney Business Continuity Management Document, in July 2018
- NHS Orkney Guidance for Staff on Blood Borne Virus Testing, October 2018
- NHS Orkney Water Safety Policy, December 2018
- NHS Orkney Policy for Working Procedures Relating to Display Screen Equipment, May 2019
- NHS Grampian, NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland Patient Group Direction for the Administration of Meningococcal ACWY Conjugate Vaccine by approved Healthcare Professionals working within NHS Grampian, NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland, June 2019
- NHS Orkney Smoking Plan, October 2019
If you would like a copy of any of these Equality and Diversity Impact Assessments, please contact Ork.feedback@nhs.scot or phone 01856 888100 during office hours.
British Sign Language (BSL) Plan
NHS Orkney works towards the goals in the British Sign Language Plan developed by Orkney Islands Council for the population of Orkney. The plan can be found here.