LGBTQ+ patients and staff
All patients must be able to trust doctors with their lives and health. They should all be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Our practice is committed to and follows the GMC core guidance principles:
The guidance is clear that doctors must:
- treat you fairly, without discrimination
- work with you to reach decisions about your treatment and care that are right for you
- respect your confidentiality and protect your personal information from improper disclosure.
They must not:
- deny you access to appropriate treatment or services because of their personal beliefs (eg about your sexual orientation, gender identity or trans status)
- express their personal beliefs, including political, religious and moral beliefs, in a way that is likely to cause you distress.
We have a diverse and happy team and expect all employees and clinical staff to be treated with respect and dignity at all times both by patients and colleagues.
Trans and non-binary people’s general health needs are the same as anyone else’s. But trans people may have specific health needs in relation to gender dysphoria.
Your particular needs may be best addressed by transgender health services offered by NHS gender dysphoria clinics (GDCs). We are a practice who refers to the Gender identity clinic (GIC).
Please let reception or your clinician know about any changes to your name and your preferred pronoun so that we may update your medical records appropriately.
Please note that we do not initiate new hormone treatment in the practice and we follow the GMC guidance related to this; This advice reaffirms that GPs should approach shared care and collaboration with gender identity
specialists in the same way as they would any other specialist. Which means we work in conjunction with the principles which underpin shared care as set out by the GMC in Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices.
Please note that participating in a formal shared care agreement is voluntary, subject to a self-assessment of personal competence, and requires the agreement of all parties, including the patient. GPs can only prescribe within their own expertise and reserve the right to signpost to more appropriate specialists without prescribing.