20 Jun Church View GP surgery reaches gold standard for LGBTQ+ care
Church View GP surgery in Rayleigh has been awarded a gold standard accreditation for the Pride in Practice initiative.
The gold standard requires (amongst other things) engaging in sexual orientation and trans status monitoring, ensuring that policies are inclusive and actively protect members of the LGBTQ+ community, and that registration forms are LGBTQ+ inclusive. Achieving the gold award also requires an ongoing commitment to LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion, demonstrated in the practice through visibility and education as well as medical support.
Professor Dr Saqib Mahmud from Church View surgery said:
“We’re delighted to announce that we’ve been reassessed by the LGBT Foundation as meeting the GOLD standard for the care we provide to our lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans patients as part of the Pride in Practice scheme. This is a fantastic accomplishment for our GP practice meaning that more LGBT people than ever can have confidence that their identity will be recognised and considered as part of their GP appointments”.
Smyth Harper, Chair of LGBT Foundation, said:
“It’s fantastic to see Church View surgery achieve gold because it sends a clear and powerful message to any LGBTQ+ person using their services that they are not just welcome but respected and affirmed.
“The ongoing investment and rollout of Pride in Practice across England demonstrates the impact that partners like Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership are having in improving health care for LGBTQ+ communities across England. We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Mid and South Essex and look forward to see more practices like Church View go for gold”.
Cass Watson, Pride in Practice Coordinator – Greater London and the South East said:
“Working with Church View has been a pleasure, from training through to accreditation staff were passionate about getting the work done to support LGBTQ+ people, however they might be engaging with the practice. This award is a crucial step, both for championing LGBTQ+ rights in Essex and for encouraging others to do the same. I’m thrilled to be able to say that a number of practices are being awarded very soon. This award is a wonderful indicator of what is to come – an inclusive future of healthcare in Essex”.
To date,15 GP practices across mid and south Essex are accredited with the opportunity for a further 50 practices to be trained and accredited this year.
Healthwatch Southend also recently put together a survey in collaboration with Southend Pride that included questions about whether people may have experienced incidence of discrimination, negative attitudes and barriers to seeking treatment. Results from the survey are below:
• Almost 50% of respondents have not disclosed their sexuality to their GP.
• Nearly 30% of respondents has experienced negative attitudes and 7% discrimination.
• 30% of respondents avoided treatment for Emotional support, Anxiety or depression.
• 20% of respondents avoided attending a Routine Smear Test.
