2 - Disability and legislation

Question 1

What is the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 1

• protects people from discrimination in the workplace and wider society
• protects peoples rights and advances equality of opportunity

Question 2

What are the protected characteristics?

Answer 2

• age
• disability
• gender reassignment
• marriage or civil partnership (workplace only)
• pregnancy and maternity
• race
• religion
• sex
• sexual orientation

Question 3

Define direct discrimination.

Answer 3

Treating someone with a protected characteristic less favourably than others

Question 4

Define indirect discrimination.

Answer 4

Putting rules or arrangements in place that apply to everyone, but put someone with a protected characteristic at an unfair disadvantage

Question 5

Define harassment.

Answer 5

Unwanted behaviour (linked to a protected characteristic) that violates someone’s dignity or creates an offensive environment

Question 6

Define victimisation.

Answer 6

Treating someone unfairly because they’ve complained about discrimination or harassment

Question 7

Where are people with protected characteristics protected by the act?

Answer 7

• work
• in education
• as a consumer
• when using public services
• buying or renting property
• member or guest at a club or association

Question 8

How is disability defined in the Equality Act?

Answer 8

“Having physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities”

Question 9

What is the inverse care law?

Answer 9

There are more care facilities available in wealthier areas, although these areas typically need them less

Question 10

How does disability affect oral health?

Answer 10

• multiple medications may lead to xerostomia
• physical impairment may prevent people from brushing their teeth or attend the dentist

Question 11

What are considered a reasonable adjustments to reduce barriers those accessing care?

Answer 11

• change the way things are done
• change a feature (ie ramp)
• provide extra aid or services

Question 12

What are the 5 domains of overcoming barriers?

Answer 12

• accessibility
• accommodation
• affordability
• acceptability
• availability

Question 13

How does availability affect the barrier to accessing healthcare?

Answer 13

• lack of suitable services discourages health seeking behaviours
• many can be treated in general practice, with a smaller proportion being treated specially
• lack of availability acts as a significant barrier to oral health (ie prolonged wait lists)

Question 14

How does accommodation affect the barrier to accessing healthcare?

Answer 14

• length/timing of appointments
• when medications have maximum therapeutic affect
• physical access
• how the practice can help someone with a disability or impairment

Question 15

How does affordability affect the barrier to accessing healthcare?

Answer 15

• direct cost of dental treatment
• direct costs such as transport, prescriptions, loss of earnings
• those with disability typically have lower incomes
• benefits can be difficult to obtain

Question 16

How does acceptability affect the barrier to accessing healthcare?

Answer 16

• person centred approach to Tx planning is essential
• how does the treatment affect their quality of life (ie other comorbidities may take priority)

Question 17

How does accessibility affect the barrier to accessing healthcare?

Answer 17

• appropriate care may be geographically far from patient
• transport can be difficult
• domiciliary care is a good option where available

Question 18

What is the Adults with Incapacity Act 2000?

Answer 18

Protects individuals over 16 who lack the capacity to make some/all decisions, and supports carers to safeguard the individuals wellbeing

Question 19

What defines an adult with incapacity?

Answer 19

Being incapable of
- acting
- making decision
- communicating decision
- understanding decision
- retaining memory of the decision

Question 20

What is the Patient Right’s Act?

Answer 20

• supports NHS to respect the rights of patients as well as those who deliver care
• Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) introduced to provide free and confidential information to patients and carers

Question 21

Describe detention and CTO.

Answer 21

• emergency detention allows a person to be held for 72 hours to assess their condition
• can only be enforced by a doctor
• short-term detention can be recommended by a psychiatrist and mental health officer
• compulsory treatment order (CTO) allow for a person to treated for their mental illness, can be in hospital or community