Health and social care - equipment and adaptations provision guidance: equality impact assessment

Executive summary

The overall aim of the Equipment and Adaptations: Guidance on Provision is to deliver a more equitable and accessible approach to the provision of equipment and adaptations.

The guidance aims to deliver a fair, consistent, and person-centred approach across Scotland and contributes towards meeting Scotland’s National Outcomes. In particular, it contributes to the following Outcomes:

1. We are healthy and active

2. We respect, protect and fulfil human rights

3. We live in communities that are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe

4. We tackle poverty by sharing opportunities, wealth and power more equally

5. We grow up loved, safe and respected

The EQIA assessed the guidance against all nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 and the three Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) needs. Most impacts were identified as positive or neutral, with no unlawful discrimination found. Special considerations were noted for prison and care home settings due to structural limitations on provision and access.

Stakeholder engagement was extensive and highlighted broad support for the guidance. Key issues raised included the need for accessible formats such as Easy Read and BSL summaries, and the importance of ensuring equitable service pathways regardless of housing tenure or geographic location.

Monitoring tools will be developed to track equality impacts during implementation, and the EQIA will be reviewed and updated as new evidence emerges to ensure ongoing compliance with equality obligations.