Disability & Discrimination Act Policy

This policy is in respect of discrimination on the grounds of disability. Autograph Dental is committed to working towards equality of opportunity for every member of the practice team and for every patient. This statement is one important way of achieving this objective.

Our dental practice recognises that discrimination on the grounds of disability is illegal. Through this policy, through training and by example, the practice wishes to demonstrate that it does not tolerate discrimination by anyone working at the practice.

Patients

The practice and its staff will not treat a disabled person less favourably than another person because of a disability. Less favourable treatment includes:

  • Refusing to treat a disabled patient
  • Giving a disabled patient a lower standard of service or treating him or her in a worse manner than an able-bodied patient
  • Offering a disabled patient less favourable terms.

The following exceptions may occur when in the dentist's opinion:

  • Health and safety reasons exist where either the patient or someone else would come to some harm if the dentist did not refuse treatment
  • A disabled patient is unable to understand that treatment must be paid for, where appropriate
  • The situation would mean negating or no longer providing the service

The practice will do its best to change or remove policies, practices and procedures that make it very difficult or impossible for a disabled patient to use the practice.

Employees

The practice:

  • Will not unjustifiably treat a disabled employee less favourably for a reason that relates to a disability.
  • Will comply with a duty of reasonable adjustment to any physical feature of the premises or to working arrangements unless the adjustment would be of no substantial benefit.

The practice will not discriminate against a disabled person;

  • In the arrangements made for determining who should be offered employment
  • In the terms on which the disabled person is offered employment
  • By refusing to offer or deliberately not offering the disabled person employment
  • In the opportunities that are afforded to an employee for promotion, a transfer, training or receiving any other benefits
  • By refusing to afford, or deliberately not affording, any such opportunity
  • By dismissal or any other detriment.

The practice will undertake to provide support, assistance and, if necessary, counselling to members of the practice who are victims of violence and aggression in the course of their work. In appropriate cases, a discretionary period of sick leave on full pay will be granted.

Approved By: Louise Hand, Sian Hulyer Date Published: 02/11/2022

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