Equality Act 2010
The legal foundation for disability rights in the UK workplace. What it says, who it protects, and why it matters for doctors. This page provides a general explanation and does not reproduce BMA or government guidance.
The Equality Act 2010
"A person has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities."
Equality Act 2010, Section 6
The Equality Act 2010 places a legal duty on employers, NHS trusts, GP practices, health boards, to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled workers are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled colleagues.
The definition of disability is broader than most people assume. You don't need to use a wheelchair or have a formal diagnosis. You don't need to look unwell. Conditions that fluctuate, epilepsy, MS, mental health conditions, are covered even during periods of remission, as long as the condition is likely to recur.
Cancer, HIV, and multiple sclerosis are automatically classified as disabilities from the point of diagnosis, regardless of how they affect you day-to-day.
You may be protected even if you don't think of yourself as disabled
Chronic pain, neurodivergence, hearing loss, mental health conditions, a lot of doctors with these live with them quietly without ever thinking the law applies to them. It probably does. If your condition substantially affects your daily life most of the time, it's worth checking with the BMA or an employment solicitor before assuming otherwise.