Promoting equality, diversity and preventing discrimination

Promoting equality, diversity and preventing discrimination

1. The importance of preventing discrimination

   • It is vital that discrimination is prevented so that everyone receives a service of equal quality which meets their personal needs.
     • Effects of discrimination on service users
       • Loss of confidence
       • Withdrawal from social activities
       • Depression and anxiety
       • Losing a sense of who you are
       • Living in fear of other
       • Injury and death
       • Mental illness triggered by stress
       • Feeling unable to work
       • Impact on waiting times for different groups
       • Reluctance to seek support and treatment
       • Stress
       • Loss of self-esteem

2. Initiatives aimed at preventing discrimination in care

   • There are many ways in which care services can be adapted to meet individuals' specific needs and prevent discrimination
     • Access
       • The environment that can be adapted, for example by having wide corridors, ramps, disabled toilets, lifts, wide automatically opening doors, counters and signs at wheelchair level, no obstacles or clutter, hearing loops
     • Diet
       • There is choice for those with medical condition, cultural preferences, religious requirements or cultural preferences
     • Support
       • Appropriate resources and information are provided in a wide range of formats and languages to reflect local cultures, with advocates, translators, interpreters and carers available to help
     • The use of advocacy services
       • someone, referred to as an advocate. can speak on behalf of someone else (who maybe can't speak for themselves due to illness, disability or lack of confidence)