New bid to combat discrimination in health service
Guidelines that aim to help combat discrimination in the health service were launched today by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney.
At the launch of the Equal Status Acts 2000 To 2004 And Provision Of Health Services pamphlet, the Equality Authority’s chief executive, Niall Crowley, said he was hugely hopeful the equality agenda could be properly implemented.
But he said the public sector as a whole needed to gear up more effectively to ensure it was complying with anti-discrimination legislation.
Mr Crowley said the health sector was leading the way in preventing discrimination in public services, which accounted for 25% of the Equality Authority casefiles under the Equality Acts in 2004.
“We have significant casework across a range of public sector organisation, though no one sector stands out.
“The public sector needs to gear up to the Equal Status Acts,” Mr Crowley said.
The Acts cover nine grounds: gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion and membership of the traveller community.
They outlaw discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and victimisation in the provision of goods and services, accommodation and education.
“It’s a very broad agenda, and therefore we do need a robust system to bring forward such a broad agenda,” Mr Crowley said.
The publication launched today aims to explain the Acts and provide guidance on systems and practices that can be put in place by organisations to ensure they have an effective approach to equality and take it into account in decision making.
Launching the pamphlet, the Tánaiste said: “Providing a quality health service implies we take into account the needs of our increasingly diverse population and that we adapt our services to meet those needs in a people-centred way.
“The fact that the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive and the Equality Authority have come together to sponsor this pamphlet shows our joint commitment to deal with the challenges involved.”
The publication was also welcomed by Patrick Lynch, Head of Equality and Diversity in the Population Health Directorate of the Health Service Executive.
“The first Corporate Plan of the Health Service Executive explicitly sets out the Health Service Executive commitment to equality.
“The new publication will be an important resource to managers and all staff through the Health Services in implementing this commitment.
“The Health Service Executive looks forward to working with the Equality Authority to make this goal of equality a reality,” he said.
