Healthcare Associated Infection strategy - second phase deliverables impact assessment: progress report - March 2025

6. Equality Impact, Fairer Scotland, Island Community Impact and Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment Screening of Phase Two Deliverables

Following an initial screening exercise, an equality impact assessment (EQIA) was not determined as necessary for Scottish Government (SG) deliverables when the first phase of the strategy was being developed. Given the introduction of new deliverables in the second phase, alongside additional deliverables for broader social care settings and Territorial Health Boards, the Scottish Government has undertaken a further EQIA screening exercise.

EQIAs are crucial for identifying how different elements of the strategy can be shaped to meet the diverse needs of Scotland’s population. These assessments help to recognise that, for example, while anyone can acquire infections in either health or social care settings, factors such as personal characteristics, socio-economic status, and geographic location may create both direct and indirect risks for certain groups.

To ensure inclusivity and fairness, the Scottish Government has also undertaken screening exercises for the Fairer Scotland Duty Impact Assessment (FSDIA), the Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) and a Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) for the new set of deliverables. These assessments ensure that any potential disparities are considered with a focus on improving outcomes for all communities across Scotland.

The impact of socio-economic disadvantage on people’s outcomes is recognised by the Fairer Scotland Duty. The Duty seeks to tackle socio-economic disadvantage and reduce the inequalities that are associated with being disadvantaged. This is a complex, multidimensional problem, closely related to poverty. Having less access to resources can mean that individuals fare worse on outcomes including health, housing, education or opportunities to work or train, and these negative outcomes can reinforce each other^[1].

Screening for an ICIA was used to test if any of the second phase deliverables will be likely to have an effect on any island communities which is significantly different from the effect on other communities^[2].

BRIA’s estimate the costs, benefits and risks of proposed legislation, voluntary regulation, codes of practice or guidance that impact the public, private or third sector. With the introduction of deliverables for social care in the second phase of the strategy, consideration was given to potential impacts for public, private and third sector care providers.

The findings in this summary are based on desk-based research.