Charity Warns: 'Shocking' Evidence Of 'Gay Cure' Belief In Health Care
Almost one in ten health and social care workers directly involved in patient care have heard colleagues say someone can be cured of being lesbian, gay or bisexual, new research has found.
Almost one in ten health and social care workers directly involved in patient care have heard colleagues say someone can be cured of being lesbian, gay or bisexual, new research has found.
The study released by Stonewall Scotland, titled Unhealthy Attitudes, found that 9% of such workers have heard colleagues expressing the incredibly harmful and dangerous'' belief.
It also found that one in five (19%) patient-facing staff have heard colleagues make negative remarks about people who are transgender, such as tranny'' andshe-male'', in the last five years.
And almost a third of health and social care staff in Scotland have heard their colleagues make negative remarks about lesbian, gay or bisexual people, or use language like poof'' ordyke'' in the last five years.
Stonewall Scotland, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans equality charity, said the study shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people are facing unhealthy attitudes from health and social care professionals, and called for action to tackle the problems.
Colin Macfarlane, director of Stonewall Scotland, said: Health and social care services have a duty to treat people fairly and equally. Yet, as this report shows, there are worrying gaps in knowledge and training relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people.
This is creating a healthcare system that treats both its LGBT patients and colleagues unfairly leading to inevitable on-going health inequalities.
Unhealthy Attitudes also contains some truly shocking revelations, such as evidence that high numbers of patient-facing staff witness colleagues stating their belief in a gay 'cure'. This is incredibly harmful and dangerous and should be publicly denounced immediately. ''
The YouGov research conducted for Stonewall Scotland also found that more than one in ten (12%) of health and social care staff in Scotland say their colleagues face discrimination or poorer treatment at work as a result of their sexual orientation.
Meanwhile, many staff surveyed said they have received little or no equality and diversity training, and some of those who were surveyed questioned its relevance.
More than three quarters (77%) of patient-facing staff have not received training on the health needs of LGBT people, the rights of same-sex partners and parents, or how to use language that is inclusive.
Fewer than one in five (18%) of health and social care practitioners in Scotland with direct responsibility for patient care said they received specific training on using appropriate language and inclusive practices for trans patients and service users.
Stonewall Scotland is calling on the Scottish Government to publicly condemn so-called gay cure'' therapy and is calling for health and social care leaders to communicate a clear message to staff that trying tocure'' lesbian, gay and bisexual people is both harmful and dangerous.
The charity is also calling for a highly visible anti-bullying anddiscrimination campaign across the NHS, as well as a prioritisation of fit-for-purpose training in health and social care organisations, as well as medical schools and universities.
Mr Macfarlane said: NHS Scotland advocates the value of person-centred care, where an understanding of the different aspects of a patient's identity, and their families and loved ones, are considered central to providing the best possible care.
Unfortunately this research demonstrates this is too often a long way from patients' lived experience of healthcare services in Scotland.''
The study of 3001 adults working in the health and social care sector included 421 from Scotland and was carried out between September 18 and October 17 last year.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: We are committed to promoting a more equal society which truly values our diverse communities and are proud to be recognised as one of the most progressive countries in Europe for LGBT equality.
Despite the significant progress, particularly in recent years, we are aware of the inequality still facing LGBT people and communities today.
There is no place for any prejudice or discrimination in modern day Scotland or anywhere else. We welcome this report and will continue to ensure government policy addresses these issues of inequality.''