Commenting on the GMC’s updated welcomed and valued guide, the College said:
As an organisation with a diverse membership, including doctors with disabilities, we welcome the new “welcomed and valued guide” to support disabled learners. It will enhance the work of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and others in expanding support for people with disabilities, including doctors.
We are committed to a policy of equality and diversity in all that we do. This includes ensuring equal opportunities for all current and potential Fellows, Members, Associates, staff, clients and visitors by the elimination of unlawful direct or indirect discrimination, harassment or victimisation on the grounds of disability; age; gender including gender reassignment; married or civil partnership status; race; colour; nationality; ethnic or national origin; religion, religious belief or similar philosophical belief; and sexual orientation.
As a recent example of this, we have refurbished our conference centre and in doing so have improved disabled access for visitors. And our Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity and Lay Committees are continually seeking ways to improve support for everyone we represent.
It is vital that medical schools and postgraduate educators have the tools they need to give disabled learners as much support as they require. All medical professionals, no matter what their background and circumstances, must be made to feel welcome and valued in our NHS. This piece of guidance, we hope, will help do just that but it must be applied correctly and effectively.
