Dear Colleagues
Sarah has pointed out that this may raise the issue of concerns around
clinical placements and minimum ages. ECU has discussed this issue with
NHS Employers and has developed the following answer to this question
(also available on our website at
http://www.ecu.ac.uk/guidance/age/faqs.htm#minimummaximumage)
- Any age requirement is always capable of objective justification. The
issue here is whether the minimum age requirements can be justified
- NHS Trusts do not have a minimum age for placements. Over time
individual Trusts may have made decisions about age and placements which
are now unlikely to be valid following the implementation of the Age
Regulations. Any such age requirement could be challenged to determine
what assumptions have been made, and whether or not the decision is
based on a valid objective justification
- The cost of insurance is unlikely to be a valid objective
justification for imposing an age bar
- Reference to the 'dignity of the patient' and 'patient concerns' would
also probably not be a valid justification - as this is about patient
perceptions about age and not about the ability and competency of the
students
- Duty of care is unlikely to be a valid argument. Vulnerable students
could be supervised which would remove this as a justification for a
minimum age.
Regards
Shelly
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sarah Lewis
Sent: 23 November 2007 09:51
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Nursing circular - minimim age change
Colleagues
This will be of interest / importance to colleagues with Departments of
Nursing and Midwifery at their Institution.
Best Wishes
Sarah
Sarah Lewis
Equality and Diversity Manager
Coventry University
Priory Street
Coventry
CV1 5FB
Tel: 024 7688 7133
Fax: 024 7688 8131
E: [log in to unmask]
Any views or opinions expressed within this e-mail are those of the
author and do not necessarily represent those of Coventry University.
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