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We are proposing offering counselling to a deaf patient but the cost is proving prohibitive. If we fail to offer this service are we in breach of the Disability & Equality Act?

We are proposing offering counselling to a deaf patient but the cost is proving prohibitive. If we fail to offer this service are we in breach of the Disability & Equality Act?
17 February 2012



Question in full:

We are proposing offering counselling to a deaf patient. The PCT no longer pay for signing or interpreters. The cost is proving prohibitive, i.e. £100 per session for 6 sessions. My concern is if we fail to offer this service, due to the cost, are we in breach of the Disability & Equality Act?

Question in full:

We are proposing offering counselling to a deaf patient. The PCT no longer pay for signing or interpreters. The cost is proving prohibitive, i.e. £100 per session for 6 sessions. My concern is if we fail to offer this service, due to the cost, are we in breach of the Disability & Equality Act?

A: The answer is likely to be yes. Under the Equality Act 2010 the GP practice will discriminate against the patient if they treat him unfavourably because of something arising in consequence of the patient's disability. If the patient wasn't deaf, he would be entitled and able to access counselling services if offered to him. It is not proportionate to not offer counselling because of the cost to provide an interpreter. As the practice is providing a public service, it has a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that it is not discriminating against the patient. On the information provided, £100 per session for six sessions is likely to be considered a reasonable adjustment to make. 
 
The practice must also consider the public sector equality duty. This duty applies to them as they are carrying out a public function. This requires, amongst other things, to have due regard to the need to eliminate disability discrimination. To not provide a service because of a patient's disability would work against the purpose of the duty.

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