Rights of access to health and social care

Disabled people share the same general rights of access to health and social care as other people, but there are also some special provisions under the Disability Discrimination Act.

The Disability Discrimination Act

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) gives disabled people important rights of access to health services and social services, such as doctors' surgeries, dental surgeries, hospitals and mobile screening units.

The anti-discrimination provisions of the DDA mean that your GP should not refuse to register, or to continue treating you, because of your disability.

The DDA also means that you have a right to information about healthcare and social services in a format that is accessible to you where it is reasonable for the service provider to provide it in that format.

For example, a hospital may provide forms and explanatory literature in large print or Braille to assist people with visual impairments, or arrange for an interpreter for someone with a hearing impairment.

Help and advice from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

The Equality Commission for NI is a good source of advice if you feel you may have been discriminated against because of your disability. The commission's helpline provides advice and information about the Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.

Some of the changes which came into effect on 3 October 2007 affect people who have been diagnosed with cancer, HIV or MS and those who have mental ill health.

For more information contact the Equality Commission.