Pathways of maternity care - patient leaflet: equality impact assessment

Executive summary

The Equality Act 2010 covers the protected characteristics of: age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, race, sex, sexual orientation and religion and belief.

The Scottish Government has considered the revised Pathways of Maternity Care Clinical Guidance and Schedule and Birthplace Decisions Patient Leaflet against the needs of the general equality duty as set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 to:- eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation, advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not, and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

The revised documents have the potential to affect women, their babies, and their families. This Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) has considered the potential impacts of the policy on each of the protected characteristics listed above.