What action it is taking to ensure that NHS boards comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), it is the responsibility of all NHS boards to support their staff to identify, understand and remove the barriers facing disabled people when they use NHS services. In recognition of the relationship between the Executive''s strategic role and NHS boards'' role in the delivery of services, significant work has been done centrally to support boards and ensure they meet their DDA requirements.
The NHS (Scotland) Reform Act 2004 created a specific duty on NHS boards to promote equality and this commitment to promoting equality and tackling disability discrimination has been reaffirmed explicitly in the Better Health Better Care action plan.
Good practice guidance aimed at supporting NHS boards to understand and meet their responsibilities under Part 3 of the DDA and developed by the Fair for All “ Disability team is available at:
http://www.healthscotland.com/uploads/documents/4683-Achieving%20Fair%20Access%20guidance.pdf.
Fair for All
- Disability have undertaken a review of progress of work to achieve disability equality by all boards, based on Disability Equality Schemes published by each board and have made recommendations for progress as well as sharing good practice. The advice and support previously provided by the Fair for All
- Disability team is now provided through an integrated Equalities and Planning Directorate established within NHS Health Scotland.
Improved outcomes for disabled people as a result of these actions will be measured by: the Scottish Health Council''s annual assessment of the patient focus public involvement responsibilities of boards; a national programme of patient experience surveys, disaggregated by disability and, monitoring NHS boards revised Disability Equality Schemes.