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NHS: Equality

Answer

The Government are committed to eliminating discrimination and promoting equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people working in or accessing services in health and social care.The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (2003) outlawing discrimination in the workplace on the grounds of sexual orientation came into force in December 2003 and any staff who consider they have been discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation now have legal recourse. In the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (2007) the Government outlawed discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the provision of goods and services. This means that the national health service is legally prohibited from discriminating. We also intend to broaden the duty on public sector organisations to promote equality and eliminate discrimination to cover sexual orientation in the forthcoming Equality Bill.While it is for individual organisations in the NHS to ensure that they meet legal and ethical requirements towards those employed by them or using their services, the Department has an important role in supporting them and disseminating knowledge in this area. The Department is encouraging NHS organisations to move towards a single equality approach, and will this summer publish guidance on sexual orientation as a strand within their single equality schemes.The Department has worked with its external stakeholder committee, the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group (SOGIAG), to produce a number of resources and guidance documents on employment, healthcare and sexual orientation. The Department has also sponsored a number of conferences on issues affecting LGB people in healthcare.We are in the process of refreshing SOGIAG with a new appointments process for members. From September we will be taking forward a new programme of policy work to reduce health inequalities for LGB people.The Department also assesses all new policies for their impact on people with different sexual orientations as part of its equality impact assessment process.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

479 c827W;479 c925W; 216589

Session

2007-08

Subjects

Equality NHS

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk