Minister for Women and Equalities Penny Mordaunt has today appointed the first ever National Adviser for LGBT Health in the NHS, and Advisory Panel – fulfilling the Government’s commitment to improving lives as set out in the landmark LGBT Action Plan.
- Clinical adviser in the NHS appointed to advise on LGBT health issues
- Expert panel also appointed, which will focus on key issues such as conversion therapy, improving access and tackling inequality in healthcare
- Government Equalities Office to host inaugural national LGBT conference (Monday 18 March)
Minister for Women and Equalities Penny Mordaunt has today appointed the first ever National Adviser for LGBT Health in the NHS, and Advisory Panel – fulfilling the Government’s commitment to improving lives as set out in the landmark LGBT Action Plan.
Dr Michael Brady, Medical Director of the Terrence Higgins Trust and a sexual health and HIV consultant at King’s College Hospital, will advise the government on how to tackle inequality in the healthcare system including:
- improving healthcare professionals’ awareness of LGBT issues
- the implementation of sexual orientation monitoring across the NHS
- working with statutory and professional organisations to address LGBT issues in physical and mental health services
At least 16% of LGBT survey respondents who accessed or tried to access healthcare services in the last year up to October 2017 had a negative experience because of their sexual orientation, and over half of those surveyed who accessed or tried to access mental health services said they had to wait too long. Yet LGBT people are more likely to experience mental health problems than the general population.
Dr Brady and some of the new members of the LGBT Advisory Panel will attend the Government Equalities Office (GEO) conference in London tomorrow (Monday 18 March). The panel will guide the Government on policy, help to deliver the LGBT Action plan, act as a sounding board, and provide evidence on the experiences of LGBT people.
Minister for Women and Equalities Penny Mordaunt said:
“Dr Brady and the experts on our new Panel will give LGBT people and those working on their behalf a direct route to speak to government and shape policy on decisions that affect their daily lives.
“Everyone should be able to love who they wish to and live their life free from fear and discrimination. That’s why we are working at pace with organisations and across government to make sure our Action Plan can bring about real, lasting change for LGBT people in the UK.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:
“Every patient should feel welcomed by the NHS, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation or race. Prejudice and discrimination have no place in healthcare and I’m determined to end this injustice.
“Dr Michael Brady will bring a wealth of knowledge to the role and I welcome his appointment. A specific national adviser will help improve the LGBT community’s current experience of the NHS and ensure individuals are always treated with the compassion and consideration they deserve. I hope this will truly give people the opportunity to be involved in shaping their own experiences going forward.”
Dr Michael Brady National Adviser for LGBT Health said:
“I’m delighted to be chosen to advise government and the NHS on the work that needs to be done to improve the health and well-being of LGBT communities. I want to ensure that every LGBT person is treated with dignity and respect and receives the right information, treatment and care.
“I want all healthcare workers to understand the needs of LGBT individuals and for everyone to feel comfortable and confident that they will be treated fairly when they access healthcare.”
The 12 members of the LGBT Advisory Panel are:
- Catherine Meads, Professor of Health at Anglia Ruskin University, specialising in hate crime
- S Chelvan, Barrister at No5 chambers, specialising in international human rights and LGBT asylum cases
- Ellen Murray, Executive Director of Transgender Northern Ireland
- James Morton, Manager at the Scottish Trans Alliance and member of the Parliamentary Forum on Gender Identity
- Jayne Ozanne, Director of the Ozanne Foundation and member of the Church of England’s General Synod
- Lewis Turner, Chief Executive of Lancashire LGBT with previous experience working on hate crime in local government
- Marcel Varney, Assistant Director of Children’s Services at Barnardo’s with experience working on adoption policy
- Paul Dillane, Executive Director of Kaleidoscope Trust
- Paul Martin, Chief Executive of LGBT Foundation
- Paul Roberts, Chief Executive of Consortium
- Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of Stonewall
- Stevie-Jade Hardy, Associate Professor of Criminology and expert on equalities and hate crime at the University of Leicester
