Disabilities

Hello, my name is Celia Golden. I'm the Head of Equality and Human Rights for London Borough of Hounslow. I'm here today to say a few words about the law relating to disability but also about an incredibly inspiring project that we're doing with a surgeon from West Middlesex Hospital and in particular with regard to a website that we're working to set up with you. Today let me start with the duty, the legal duty, there is under the Equality Act 2010 a key legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for people with a disability. And of course the word reasonable is important, you can't use the law, your lack of resources to say that you won't do something for a disabled person. So if you're a public service it's very critical that you understand this piece of legislation. And if you're a client, it's important for you to know what your rights are under this legislation. So I'm sharing this with you so that you're a little bit more familiar about how you go about improving access for care and access to hospital services. And if this applies to public service, it applies right across the board, whether you're in a hospital or a police force or anywhere, this piece of legislation obliges these authorities in these public institutions to provide better services to you. Now the duty to make reasonable adjustment is a cornerstone of the Equality Act and what it does is to say that there are three key things that public authorities must do. One is that they must set out to avoid any disadvantage which is substantial in relation to a provision, a criterion, or a practice which is applied by public authority. Now I know that sounds a little bit legalistic, but what it actually means is that they have to remove a physical feature or provide an alternative way of getting around a physical feature. So, when you think about the ramps you've used, think about the lifts you've used. are all being produced or established because the law requires public authority to change or make life easier for people with disability so they can access the buildings in the same way as somebody who is not disabled. Now as part of that there's also something called they're obliged to provide auxiliary aid and what that means is better information services so if If you're deaf, they should actually be able to provide you support through a BSL interpreter. If you are blind, they ought to be doing a lot more to provide some sort of adjustments for you. They could ask you what your needs are and then write them down so that if you're in a ward, they should actually, whoever's coming to check your bed is able to know what your needs are. are all small ways of making adjustments to improve the quality of your stay while you're there just to make practical simple things it doesn't cost a lot of money so don't hesitate to make the request. Now in terms of the substantial disadvantage it is important that they actually remove the physical feature, alter it or provide a reasonable way of avoiding it so these are things that you can request and there is no option to opt out of it now unless it costs huge millions of pounds or something but if you're a big public authority there you are expected to deliver on these things then in terms of other things you know what you need to be aware of is that if there's a design or a construction of a building or a feature an exit to an entrance to a building or a fixture or a furniture or anything that blocks you while you're in a ward or while you're trying to get into surgery, these are things that you could ask beforehand to have it changed or removed if it's practical or feasible. Finally what I want to say to you is, I would really welcome more of you sharing your experiences because the more you share, the more likelihood that you're helping somebody else who isn't able to share. And that would mean that nurses, doctors, surgeons, all who view this video can actually use it, understand how your experience ought to be improved. So if we can help improve services, then that's what we ought to be doing. So this is really a massive plea to you if you're a patient or if you're going into hospital, if you've had an experience, then please, I would advise you to share your story about access to healthcare. So by uploading it yourself onto a website called healthshare.com. So I really appreciate you getting involved with us in this project. The more of us that do that, the more likely that these things will change and improve on behalf of the wider society. So thank you very much for hearing me and do get in touch with us through our website. Thank you very much, bye bye.