Unit 10: sociological perspectives
Learning aim C: Examine how social inequalities, demographic change, and patterns and trends
affect health and social care delivery
Everyone has rights in the UK, and these are protected by Laws:
A new Equality Act came into force on 1st October 2010. It combines over 116 different pieces of
legislation into a single Act. The Act establishes a legal framework to safeguard individual rights and
promote equality of opportunity for all. It gives the United Kingdom a discrimination law that
protects people from unjust treatment and promotes a more equal society. Equality is about treating
people alike according to their needs. Healthcare professionals need to make sure that everyone is
given equality of opportunity. For example, they need to give information in different formats
(braille or several languages) or make sure there is access to a building for an individual in a
wheelchair.
The characteristics that are protected by the Equality Act 2010 are:
age
disability
gender reassignment
marriage or civil partnership (in employment only)
pregnancy and maternity
race
religion or belief
sex
sexual orientation
The Mental Health Act of 1983 (as revised, most recently by the Mental Health Act of 2007) is
intended to give health professionals the authority to detain, assess, and treat people with mental
disorders in the interests of their health and safety or public safety in certain circumstances. It is the
main piece of legislation that covers the assessment, treatment and rights of people with a mental
health disorder.
The Data Protection Act 2018 implements the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the
United Kingdom. Everyone that is in charge of handling personal information must follow strict
guidelines known as "data protection principles." They must ensure that the information is:
used fairly, lawfully, and transparently
for specific, explicit purposes
used in a way that is adequate, relevant, and limited to only what is necessary
kept up to date stored for no longer than is necessary
handled in a way that ensures appropriate security, including protection against unlawful or
unauthorised processing, access, loss, destruction, or damage
There are many legislations that protects people in the United Kingdom. However, there are
individuals that do not know their rights and how to protect them. A report published by the Public
Legal Education Network shows that around two thirds of people (64.8%) do not know their rights
and There are many factors that contribute to this. People including children are not being educated
on their legal rights causing them to have zero knowledge on this issue. Knowledge of the law is
essential for promoting legal culture. Every member of society should have a fundamental
understanding of the law. The law is commonly understood as a set of rules and regulations followed
by society, i.e., the current rules of society. The laws contribute to the smooth operation of society.
1
Learning aim C: Examine how social inequalities, demographic change, and patterns and trends
affect health and social care delivery
Everyone has rights in the UK, and these are protected by Laws:
A new Equality Act came into force on 1st October 2010. It combines over 116 different pieces of
legislation into a single Act. The Act establishes a legal framework to safeguard individual rights and
promote equality of opportunity for all. It gives the United Kingdom a discrimination law that
protects people from unjust treatment and promotes a more equal society. Equality is about treating
people alike according to their needs. Healthcare professionals need to make sure that everyone is
given equality of opportunity. For example, they need to give information in different formats
(braille or several languages) or make sure there is access to a building for an individual in a
wheelchair.
The characteristics that are protected by the Equality Act 2010 are:
age
disability
gender reassignment
marriage or civil partnership (in employment only)
pregnancy and maternity
race
religion or belief
sex
sexual orientation
The Mental Health Act of 1983 (as revised, most recently by the Mental Health Act of 2007) is
intended to give health professionals the authority to detain, assess, and treat people with mental
disorders in the interests of their health and safety or public safety in certain circumstances. It is the
main piece of legislation that covers the assessment, treatment and rights of people with a mental
health disorder.
The Data Protection Act 2018 implements the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the
United Kingdom. Everyone that is in charge of handling personal information must follow strict
guidelines known as "data protection principles." They must ensure that the information is:
used fairly, lawfully, and transparently
for specific, explicit purposes
used in a way that is adequate, relevant, and limited to only what is necessary
kept up to date stored for no longer than is necessary
handled in a way that ensures appropriate security, including protection against unlawful or
unauthorised processing, access, loss, destruction, or damage
There are many legislations that protects people in the United Kingdom. However, there are
individuals that do not know their rights and how to protect them. A report published by the Public
Legal Education Network shows that around two thirds of people (64.8%) do not know their rights
and There are many factors that contribute to this. People including children are not being educated
on their legal rights causing them to have zero knowledge on this issue. Knowledge of the law is
essential for promoting legal culture. Every member of society should have a fundamental
understanding of the law. The law is commonly understood as a set of rules and regulations followed
by society, i.e., the current rules of society. The laws contribute to the smooth operation of society.
1
