UK —
The NHS has come under harsh criticism from health care
experts and transgender rights advocates for failing to
address for needs of LGBT patients.
Derbyshire nurse and
psychotherapist Janet Smith told the Nursing Standard
that NHS service providers are often insensitive to
health issues regarding gender and sexuality.
“There are staff who
deny [that] they have any lesbian, gay, bisexual
or transgender clients on the grounds that their service
is for older people,” Smith says.
Smith cited the story of
Karen, a post-op transsexual, whose confidentiality was
broken at the GP practice, revealing details of the
procedure to her former partner.
Smith concluded that
health service providers are quick to dismiss a
patients’ sense of identity.
“The results can be
an increase in anger and self-loathing and an increased
risk of isolation, depression and self-harm.”
Christine Burns, trans
rights campaigner and advisor to Department of Health
civil servants, also condemned the NHS’s attitude
toward transgender people, saying their failings could
easily qualify as abuse.
“The NHS is failing
transsexual and transgender people right across the
board.” Burns told GAY.COM.
“A report soon to be
published by the Trevor Phillips’ Equalities Review,
and based on questioning of 870 trans people in Britain
last autumn, is expected to show that over 20% of trans
people have experienced GP’s refusing to treat
them.”
“Of the remaining
80%, the GP’s who would like to help say they are
unable to do so because they lack the knowledge. They end
up being taught by their patients.”
“When it comes to
people seeking help with their gender issues it has been
unlawful to refuse referral to a clinic since 1999.
However, all over the country we see PCTs doing just
that. They claim to operate ‘exceptional cases’
policies, but cannot describe what would constitute an
exception to a flat ‘No’.”
“Others present
distressed patients with waiting times of two or three
years just to be seen by an appropriately trained gender
specialist. I’ve never met a transsexual person who
was offered a choice of where to be referred, in spite of
this being a Government commitment to everyone else.
Discrimination is writ in big bold letters across every
NHS threshold, ‘NO TRANNIES
HERE’.”
“The Equalities
Review research also highlights the immense suicide risk
among people denied help and support though. Our research
indicates almost a third of trans people had at one time
contemplated or attempted suicide one or more times prior
to receiving treatment. Transsexual people are literally
being sent away to die. I saw a documented case of this
kind in Wales only 2 or 3 weeks ago.”
Health proffessionals who
are part of LGBT awareness groups also face ill-treatment
from health- care providers.
Jason Warriner, one of
the founders of the Royal College of Nursing’s
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender support group RCN
Out!, says: “I know nurses who have had to leave
work because of harassment from colleagues. We are meant
to be in a caring profession but if you have colleagues
acting like that, it makes you wonder how they treat
patients.”
