Introduction to Professional Healthcare Service and Practice Legislation, policies and guidelines play an integral part in the application of healthcare services. Legislation is another term meaning statutory law, ‘A law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by parliament’ (Cambridge dictionary 2017). A policy outlines what a government/ministry hopes to achieve, and all methods and principles that the government or entity will use to achieve its directive. ‘A set of ideas or a plan of what to do in particular situations that has been agreed to officially by a group of people, a business organisation a government, or a political party’ (Cambridge dictionary 2017). In healthcare these are detrimental in the implementation of safe, equal and fair treatment of the patient, to ensure that an efficient high standard and quality of care is provided and to protect both the individual and healthcare professional. The Patient’s Charter 1991 Throughout the history of the NHS there has been a concern with improving patient’s access to healthcare and the existence of delays for receiving appointments and treatment. The Patient’s Charter in 1991 exemplified this concern and attempts to define the rights of patients …show more content…
Prior to the commencement of the Act citizens were protected by several individual pieces of legislation including the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Race Relations Act 1976 and the Disability Act 1995. The Equality Act not only recognises historic discrimination; it also ensures equal opportunities are provided to individuals regardless of where, when, what or whom they were born, what they believe, or whether they have a disability. Under the Act there are nine outlined protected characteristics, none of which take priority above