Equality and Diversity is simply about treating people fairly, both in the Healthcare Services we provide and within Inverurie Medical Group.
Everyone has a legal right to be treated fairly and free from discrimination. The main piece of legislation in this field is the Equality Act 2010. This Act places a positive duty on all public bodies to actively promote equality and diversity in all services they provide and within their Organisations and adhere to good practice.
The Equality Act 2010 defined the nine components or “protected characteristics” of equality and diversity as:
- Race
- Disability
- Sexual Orientation
- Religion or belief
- Sex (male or female)
- Gender Reassignment
- Age (2006 to 30th September 2012 only applied in the workplace, applied in society generally from 1st October 2012)
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Marriage and civil partnership
A person has legal protection against discrimination arising from one or more of these protected characteristics.