- Conference
- 2007 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 12 December 2006
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
This Conference is concerned about the increasing number of members involved in Blue Light duties who are being subjected to punitive actions by their health service employers when their diabetes status is declared.
Branches have reported that neighbouring fire and police authorities are continuing to make reasonable adjustments in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act in order to accommodated their staff in blue light duty posts.
Conference is aware that jointly prepared guidance issued by the Ambulance Service Association Health and Safety Committee on ‘Diabetes in the Workplace’ reinforces the requirement to make reasonable adjustments in line with the DDA legislation. However conference notes that such guidance is not compulsory and does not cover the Scottish Ambulance Service and other blue light health services.
We believe that health service workers in the UK should be afforded the same protections at work as other public service workers.
Broad exclusions on the basis of impairment or health conditions without adequate use of risk assessments is institutional discrimination and unlawful according to the 2005 amendment to the Disability Discrimination Act that introduces a Disability Equality Duty.
This Conference instructs the Health Service Executive to undertake a branch exercise to establish the extent of problems faced by Blue Light members and make appropriate representations to health service employers to secure our members jobs by the provision of reasonable adjustments they need to carry out their duties safely and efficiently. This Conference further instructs the Service Group Executive to issue advice to branches about representing Blue Light members who are in dispute with their employers.