‘Around 1/8 LGBTQ+ people have had unequal treatment from healthcare staff because they're LGBTIQ+
This is according to the Mental Health Foundation.
‘Around one in eight LGBTQ+ people have experienced unequal treatment from healthcare staff because they are LGBTIQ+.
This is according to the Mental Health Foundation. We spoke to the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust to see what they are doing for LGBTQ+ patients and staff members
The chief nurse at ESNEFT Doctor Giles Thorpe, also happens to be gay. He wants Healthcare to be a place that people are able to come to and feel safe when being treated and cared for.
"Our values are we are optimistic, we're appreciative and kind and that underpins everything we do in the trust."
Doctor Thorpe also told us about the Rainbow Badge Scheme they have in place and what it means when a member of staff wears one.
"This has a requirement and a signed commitment that anybody who wears the badge understands that it's their responsibility to be available for anyone identifying as LGBTQ +, they can come and talk to them. They can raise concerns or seek any kind of advice and guidance.
"The new NHS Rainbow Badge Accreditation Scheme helps us understand how we can improve further and be the best we can support our LGBTQ + communities with pride. "
They're also changing their name badges so staff have their pronouns displayed, which will help start a conversation with their trans patients who may want to be addressed with specific pronouns.
"So it's all about us openly showing that we are there to support specific needs and to be there to have a conversation which is really important."
Training
Dr Thorpe went on to tell us the staff receive additional training on with their partner The Outhouse which is very well attended by staff members.
"So for our staff who don't identify in the community, they're able to understand the challenges and fears that our community feels when using healthcare services, which I think is really important
"One of the specific things we've done within the network has been developing our trans care policy ... so that our staff are more mindful about working with trans people, whether they be patients or whether they be colleagues so that they can ask questions in the right way in a mindful way to understand how's the best way to approach a conversation.
"There's more work to be done, but I'm really really proud of the network and what they do."
What happens if someone is discriminated against?
We asked Doctor Thorpe if they had any measures or protocols in place should if someone experiences discrimination.
He told us there have been some occasions but the number is low.
"The really important thing is that where we have had a concern or a complaint raised it's dealt with immediately.
"Any issues around that, are escalated to the senior leaders in the services where any issue has been identified. I'm also alerted personally as the chief nurse to any issues related.
"We have clear policies in place that will investigate and address any issues that are identified and if they've had a discriminatory component about them. So we've got real policies in place around that.
"Also where we have heard that things haven't gone right. We've shared those stories with our Board of Directors. So the people in charge of the hospital don't only know what the issues have been, but actually what we've done about it.
"And we share those stories so that we learn and improve.
"We don't always get it right. but the most important thing is that we'll take action and we make changes happen."
Doctor Thorpe went onto say how discrimination is not tolerated on any level, whether its staff to patients or patients to staff and they make that abundantly clear and action will be taken if needed.
LGBTQ+ Staff Members
Dr Thorpe told us how they have hundreds of members of staff who are apart of the LGBTQ+ group at ESNEFT.
He told us that it's okay if people want to be open about how they identify and its okay if they want to keep that information to themselves.
"The most important thing is that people feel that they can be their true styles when they come to work."