Equality Impact Assessment
The completion of Equality Impact Assessments (EQIA) is a legal requirement for all Scottish public bodies, including NHS Boards.
An EQIA provides a systematic way of considering how a policy, practice, procedure or function might affect people differently.
The EQIA allows us to identify potential negative impacts on different groups in society. We can use it to adapt the way we work in order to prevent discrimination; and it also allows us to record and demonstrate these actions.
In particular, EQIAs look at the impact on groups of people who share any of the protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010 and the Fairer Scotland Duty.
Whenever we develop new plans or propose changes to our service provision, we must consider how they might affect people differently – including patients, staff, service users, volunteers and other stakeholders.
Protected Characteristics
- Age
- Disability
- Trans status
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Maternity and Pregnancy
- Race
- Religion and Belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
- Socio economic status (Fairer Scotland Duty)
