In January 2021 Drs Hart and Hopkins underwent NHS Rainbow Badge Training from Bradford and Craven CCG. The NHS Rainbow Badge training started in Evelina’s Children Hospital in London to help make a positive difference by promoting a message of LGBT+ inclusion. This training has been replicated in NHS trusts across Britain. Stonewall and the LGBT Foundation are working together to help develop a standardised training scheme for all NHS Trusts and both Drs Hart and Hopkins have been involved in the focus group stage of development. Find out more about the NHS Rainbow Badge scheme.
Both doctors have also undertaken LGBT+ training from the RCGP and from these sessions they were able to conduct their own training for the rest of the staff. The staff who have completed this training have been asked to provide a pledge to express how they will support LGBT+ patients. Once they have provided this they are able to wear their NHS Rainbow Badge with pride.
Both doctors have also undertaken LGBT+ training from the RCGP and from these sessions they were able to conduct their own training for the rest of the staff. The staff who have completed this training have been asked to provide a pledge to express how they will support LGBT+ patients. Once they have provided this they are able to wear their NHS Rainbow Badge with pride.
Our colleagues have had further training from Rosie, who works for the Bradford branch of MESMAC, which is one of the oldest and largest LGBT+ organisations in Britain, as well as training from Aimee from the LGBT Foundation.
In April 2021 we conducted a study for our LGBT+ patients to evaluate how well they feel our organisation makes them feel comfortable and supported and asking for suggestions on how to improve our services. We will be using these suggestions to ensure we offer better support for these patients.
We have updated our LGBT+ policies and now have one to help staff support patients who want to change their gender marker, pronoun, title or name on our systems, as well as updating our zero tolerance and confidentiality policies to specifically mention trans and other LGBT+ patients. We have introduced a Trans Equality Policy for both staff and patients. We have dedicated clinical and non-clinical LGBT+ Leads in all our localities, so all our colleagues have someone who can help with any query or concern.
Dr Hart is working as part of a steering group with many parties, including NHS Digital, in order to try and improve IT systems in Primary Care. The hope is that we will be able to input non-binary gender and preferred pronoun, as well as ensuring trans patients are automatically invited to appropriate cancer screening, a system which is not currently available, much to the detriment of the health care needs of trans and non-binary patients. This work is still in its infancy but the aim is that with more equality in our computer system we can break down one of the barriers to more equal healthcare for trans and non-binary patients.
Following on from this necessary work to improve how we, as an organisation, support LGBT+ patients, in early 2022 all our practices have been assessed for Pride in Practice training from LGBT Foundation. We are pleased to announce all our practices achieved gold, the highest level achievable! Although we are really proud of this achievement, we know this is just the foundation and we are constantly striving to be more inclusive and supportive of our LGBT+ staff and patients.
LGBT+ resources
- Bradford Branch MESMAC – Bradford Branch of one of the oldest and biggest LGBT+ organisations
- Equity – organisation working with and for Bradford’s LGBT+ communities
- Mermaids – support for gender-diverse children, young people and their families
- Albert Kennedy Trust – a voluntary organisation serving LGBT+ young people who are homeless, living in a hostile environment or in housing crisis
- Hidyah – a nationwide organisation for LGBT+ Muslims in the UK
- Terrence Higgins Trust – national services and campaigns in relation to HIV and sexual health
- Stonewall – LGBT+ rights charity
- LGBT Foundation – a national charity delivering advice, support and information services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities