Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Equality, diversity and inclusion questions in the AKT focus on the legal framework and its practical application in general practice. The Equality Act 2010 is central and you need to know the nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

The Act introduces the concept of reasonable adjustments for disabled patients. In practice, this means things like longer appointment slots, accessible premises, easy-read materials, and British Sign Language interpreters. AKT questions often test whether a proposed adjustment is reasonable or whether a practice is meeting its legal obligations.

Health inequalities are a major theme. The Marmot Review and subsequent reports established that health outcomes follow a social gradient, and the gap in life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas in England is significant. You should understand the inverse care law (Tudor Hart, 1971), which states that those who need healthcare most are least likely to receive it.

Cultural competence goes beyond language barriers. It includes understanding different health beliefs, approaches to death and dying, dietary practices, and attitudes to mental health across different communities. AKT questions may present scenarios where cultural factors influence a patient's presentation or their response to treatment.

Unconscious bias affects clinical decision-making. Research shows that patients from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to be offered certain treatments and more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act. You should understand how bias operates and what steps can mitigate it, such as structured clinical assessments and audit.

NICE guidance on reducing health inequalities includes recommendations on digital inclusion, interpreting services, and targeted screening in deprived populations. The NHS Long Term Plan sets out commitments to reduce health inequalities, and you may see questions about Core20PLUS5, the national approach to reducing inequalities in healthcare.