Protected Characteristics and Underpinning Legislation

Underpinning legislation provides the legal protections against discrimination and helps ensure fair access to services and employment. In England, Scotland and Wales the Equality Act 2010 is the primary statute; Northern Ireland uses separate equality laws and guidance.

For dental nurses the practical requirement is consistent across the UK: do not treat patients, colleagues or members of the public unfairly, exclude or harass them, or deny reasonable support because of protected characteristics or assumptions about them.

Protected characteristics in everyday dental care

• Age: avoid assumptions about older or younger patients' understanding, choices or independence.
• Disability: identify and act on reasonable adjustments and communication support needs.
• Race, religion or belief: avoid stereotypes about culture, diet, language, attendance or family involvement.
• Sex, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation or gender reassignment: protect dignity, privacy, names, pronouns and fair treatment.
• Workplace protections: colleagues and trainees also need protection from discrimination, harassment and exclusion.

Dental nurses are not expected to give legal advice. They must recognise when an issue involves discrimination, harassment, victimisation, reasonable adjustments or restricted access, and know who to involve.

Four-nation legal differences

Dental nurses are not expected to be equality-law experts, but they should recognise protected-characteristic risks and use the right route for support or escalation.