New report shows the extent of prejudice in health and social care sectors
The persistence of prejudice in Scotland’s health sector has been revealed by a study showing some staff believe gay people can be cured.
Research from Stonewall Scotland lifts the lid on some of the problems faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) community when accessing healthcare.
It found that nine per cent of health and social care workers directly involved in patient care in Scotland have witnessed colleagues expressing the belief that there is a cure for homosexuality.
The poll, conducted by YouGov on behalf of the charity and published as a study called Unhealthy Attitudes, also found workplace bullying to be commonplace in health and social work.
The report states that three in five staff directly involved in patient care, who hear discriminatory remarks about lesbian, gay and bisexual people, do not report it.
There are worrying gaps in knowledge and training relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people
Trans people are also subject to discrimination, with negative remarks or offensive language such as “tranny” and “she-male” being heard by 19 per cent of staff from their colleagues.
Nearly one in ten health and social care workers say they would not feel comfortable working alongside a trans colleague.
Public bodies have a legal duty to advance equality and eliminate discrimination. However, many staff say they have received little or no equality and diversity training, and some of those who were surveyed even questioned its relevance.
More than three quarters of patient-facing staff have not received training on the health needs of LGB people, the rights of same-sex partners and parents, or how to use language that is inclusive.
Fewer than one in five 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.
There was also a lack of awareness of the relevance of sexual orientation to healthcare needs, with three in five (61 per cent) of those with direct responsibility for patient care saying they don’t consider sexual orientation to be relevant to health needs.
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.
“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.
“We are releasing this research to highlight the importance of investing in and committing to LGBT equality. Stonewall Scotland, and LGBT people and organisations up and down the country, have the skills and resources to work with healthcare providers, health and social care education providers, NHS Boards and social care organisations to achieve this. We want to ensure that everyone, everywhere is accepted without exception.”
