Policy responses and statements
Background: The strategy aims to accommodate diversity and will ensure accessibility to health and social care for all those who need it. People who experience social and economic disadvantage tend to be sicker and die younger than others. We refer to such trends as health inequalities. Addressing health inequalities has long been part of the core business of the Department and the Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS). Despite much excellent work across the service, the reality is that health inequalities still exist as do equality of access problems. The Department expects the major structural reforms which are being undertaken, following the Review of Public Administration, to help in correcting these problems. Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998 create specific legal duties for the Department and its associated bodies with regard to promoting equality, good relations and human rights. However, equality, good relations and human rights cannot be addressed through legal avenues alone. We need to build them into everything we do as an explicit commitment so that our health and social services will be characterised by openness, integrity and fair treatment for all. There has been substantial progress in recent years in mainstreaming equality into policy-making and planning. This strategy and action plan represents a practical approach to problems, so that we can improve access and improve people’s experience of health and social care services. It will serve to remind us of the importance of equality, good relations and human rights and will provide clear and transparent direction for moving forward in a clear and coordinated way. It will support other efforts to reduce health inequalities and to ensure that our health and social services are accessible to the whole community. Proposed actions include: providing high quality interpreting and translation services; improving disabled people’s access to HPSS services; promoting community engagement and service user feedback; assessing the impact of our policies and functions on the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations; and training staff on equality and human rights. Download this consultation response as a .pdf Copies of this response are available from: Lesley Lockhart, Tel: 0131 225 7324 ext 608 [29 December 2006]
|
 |
 |