Equality Impact Assessment Report
Following completion of a Full Equality Impact Assessment this form should be completed in
order to publish the outcomes.
Name of the policy, function,
strategy or project
Major Incident Plan
Policy / Function Aims
Outline the main aims and outcomes of the policy, function, strategy or project and how it fits
in with the wider aims of the organisation (a summary of step one from the full impact
assessment)
Policy is about how to maintain services for as long as possible. Potential issues for staff who
are disabled or who are unable to travel – will need to make reasonable adjustments including
working from home. Staff who are carers and / or parents may be affected by school closures.
There will be an Impact on staff possible with regard to their roles / hours / location to maintain
services, including changing annual leave etc. Patient groups who are likely to be most
affected are those who are unable to get antibiotics or other forms of treatment and will require
home visits. Uncertainty about functionality of services to provide home visits during major
incident. The PCT will target services at most vulnerable groups, with no specific groups being
discriminated against. Potential use of voluntary agencies – need to ensure that policy cover
all groups when considering involvement of voluntary agencies (e.g. Mencap). BIVO list and
info from Equip website (www.equip.nhs.uk) to be appended to policy.
Voluntary sector will be involved when developing specific plans
Emergency planning provides a challenge to the Health Service because no two incidents are
the same or have the same effect on different parts of the health service and it is impossible to
accurately predict the nature and location of incidents. It is possible however, to develop
emergency plans based on the type of incident which have previously occurred and trigger
points which could suggest a greater chance of an incident occurring in the future. The Major
Incident Plan aims to ensure emergency preparedness and provide a contingency plan for
business continuity. The focus will be on maintaining services, minimizing risk and disruption
to services, and to avoid the spread of infection where relevant. The health of those affected
by an incident includes staff, and members of the public. A flow chart exists within the policy.
Responsibilities are explicit within the draft policy. Data / information adequate for
development of the policy, although additional data will be required if an incident occurs – a
system will exist nationally for this.
Temporary service re-design is integral to the Plan – see previous notes about any changes
required
See previous notes
Progress will be monitored by the Emergency Planning Group, the Flu Pandemic Group, the
Incident Team (at the time of any incident) – yet to receive DOH guidance about how to
prioritise – by severity of ill-health. NB Will require interpreters and a language line helpline –
to be included in policy
Nationally these stakeholders have been involved but not at this local assessment
Background and context
Outline assessment process, summarise areas of key information used to support the impact
assessment and any involvement or engagement processes which were undertaken (a
summary from step two and step six from the full impact assessment)
DOH Guidance ‘Planning for Major Incidents’ (1998); ‘Primary Care Trusts Emergency
Planning Function’ (2002); ‘Handling Major Incidents’ (2004)
Links with Mass Casualty Plan; Radiological Plan; Reception of Military Patients Plan;
Smallpox Outbreak Plan
Policy refers to plans made in response to any incident in which there is a large number of
casualties, a serious health threat to the local community or internal disruption.
Other Legislation of relevance: Civil Contingencies Act (2005); Health and Safety at Work Act;
Human Rights Act; Equalities Act (2006)
Skills pro forma has been completed by staff and is being collated centrally. Staff side
agreement has been obtained. Staff briefings have been prepared. Demographic and public
health data exists about the population of South Birmingham plus information about people
whose first language is not English. Data exists about risk groups (e.g risk of Coronary Heart
Disease; smokers etc)
The plan has been part tested (table top exercise) locally and live tested through episodes
such as the fuel strike.
Impact assessment to be circulated for comment, Policy has been circulated widely (internally)
and commented on.
Risk Management will retain records of comments received.
Impact assessment and draft policy / plan to be circulated
Page 2 of 3
Impact assessment report
April 2008
Summary of findings and actions
Outline the key findings for each equality strand as identified in step four of the full impact
assessment process.
See previous notes (staff, disabled people)
Refugees and asylum seekers ie those not registered; need to have plans about how they will
receive information
Issue about coping with numbers of dead bodies, may disadvantage people who have specific
beliefs / religion (City – wide plan).
Risk of discrimination as above
Communication including support to families
May not be possible to avoid the impact
Actions
Give an overview on whether the policy, function, strategy or project will promote equality and
diversity together with any practical actions that are required to reduce or remove any adverse
/ negative impact from the impact assessment (step seven of the full impact assessment
process) and the action plan
Action planning and commissioning to reflect the impact assessment
Add to checklist but need to respond to national guidance when available
Need to consider if major incident is related to e.g. racial tension – have duty of care to staff
Consultation with Public Involvement Action Group; Emergency Planning Group, Disability
Advisory Group for Users
Risk Manager and Assistant Director of Public Health to take forward actions
Monitoring
Outline how the policy, function will be monitored and whose responsibility this is (step nine
from the full impact assessment)
This will be done by the Emergency Planning Group and the Flu Pandemic Group
The findings of the impact assessment will published with the Policy, and the full impact
assessment will be available on request
Date of impact assessment:
April 2007
Page 3 of 3
Impact assessment report
April 2008