B9 The Equality Act Flashcards
why should pharmacy professionals know about the equality act?
- inequalities exist across society
- within healthcare, inequitable treatment of patients leads to poorer health outcomes and increases the risk of harm
- pharmacists regularly interact with patients from disadvantaged groups, making decisions / giving advice about their care
- pharmacists often have managerial responsibilities towards other employees
what must pharmacy providers do surrounding the Equality Act?
- pharmacy providers have a legal and ethical responsibility to create an environment where no one is unlawfully discriminated against
- legal duties under the Equality Act 2010
- ethical duties under the GPhC Standards for Pharmacy Professionals and guidance
what are the 9 protected characteristics?
age
disability
gender reassignment
marriage and civil partnership
pregnancy and maternity
race
religion or belief
sex
sexual orientation
who does the Equality Act apply to?
- everyone in GB who provides goods, services or facilities to the public
- pharmacies have a duty as they provide services
what are the 4 types of discrimination?
- direct discrimination
- indirect discrimination
- harassment
- victimisation
what is direct discrimination?
people are treated less favourably because of a protected characteristic
what is indirect discrimination?
an organisation’s policy applies in the same way for everybody but disadvantages a group of people who share a protected characteristic
what is harassment?
treating people in a way that violates their dignity, or creates a hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment
what is victimisation?
treating people unfairly if they decide to take action under the Equality Act or they are supporting someone else who is doing so
what do pharmacists need to do with their pharmacy property?
pharmacists have a duty to anticipate, and make, reasonable adjustments to the property you provide services from, to meet the needs of disabled people (including employees)
state some examples of things that pharmacists could do to make their services more accessible
- change way services are delivered (eg. different methods of providing info: Braille, large print labels etc)
- provide extra equipment (eg. hearing induction loop)
- removing physical barriers (eg. access in and around the pharmacy)
what does the GPhC guidance on the Equality Act help us to do?
- understand how we can meet the standards in relation to equality (avoiding FtP actions)
- protect the rights of individuals
- advance equal opportunity for staff, patients and the public
- improve the experience and healthcare outcomes of the users of pharmacy services
which 2 GPhC standards are most applicable to equality?
- person-centred care
- professional behaviour
what are the GPhC expectations for how pharmacies should operate and how pharmacy professionals should act regarding equality?
- ‘pharmacies should operate in a way that encourages equality of opportunity and respect for diversity’
- ‘pharmacy professionals should be fair and inclusive in everything they do, including their relationships with patients, other HCPs and service providers, and other people they work with’
what compliance aids could pharmacies provide and to who?
- for older or disabled patients to support them to take their medication
- ‘easy open’ containers / bottle lids
- Monitored Dosage Systems (MDS)
- reminder charts
- dexterity aids (eg. eye drops applicators)
are compliance aids / adjustments always necessary and / or beneficial?
- assumptions should not be made about the benefits of any adjustment until the needs, suitability and preference of the patient has been established
- unsuitable adjustments may cause harm for which the pharmacy and pharmacist would be liable
