LGBT+ History Month's theme this year is "medicine and healthcare". Why do you think recognising the contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals to healthcare is important? Can it help create a more inclusive and compassionate environment?
So much of LGBTQ+ history is tied up in health and wellbeing. We are a community that has been (and still is) disproportionately affected by certain conditions, both physical and mental. But at the same time, members of the community have been responsible for some of the biggest contributions in these fields. The obvious one being advances in HIV-related care and sexual wellbeing in general. But there is so much that we have done, and continue to do, that may not get recognised. So it's time we made a noise about it and celebrated! Then perhaps everyone will notice the work we do and value the community more. And when that happens, I think it is bound to create more inclusion and understanding. The world has a lot to learn from us.
How has being part of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as from an ethnic minority background, shaped your experience as a doctor? Do you think it would have been different if you started out today, and if so, how?
While being from certain 'groups' can make things challenging – especially when those groups are not the majority – I still say that our intersectionality, the collision of our qualities and characteristics, is our strength. I'm not going to lie, being from an ethnic background does make things challenging sometimes when faced with people and attitudes that don't understand that. Being queer also has made things really difficult. Sadly, we work in a caring profession, but not everyone is as caring or understanding as they ought to be. We need to work on those archaic attitudes that still exist in certain part of healthcare – especially homo – and transphobia, sexism, racism and ableism. But my intersections have given me a viewpoint that others may not have and shaped me to be a better, more understanding, compassionate and caring doctor. I like to think that we are making progress and someone similar starting out today would have an easier experience, but we can't pretend that all the work is done. We have no choice but to make things better for the generations to come.
What positive impacts do you believe LGBTQ+ visibility in the NHS can have on patients and staff?
When we understand each other better, when we treat people with care and respect, when we recognise different backgrounds and experiences, when we allow people to be who they are and flourish, when we listen and learn from others with different experiences, that's when we become better caring professionals and better people as a whole. Being visible is simply the start of all that. Of course we need people to feel able to be who they are, but we also need to create an environment that is positively receptive to that. It's a two-way street. When we make our attitudes and spaces more inclusive it's better for everyone – staff and patients alike.
If any organisation wants to do better, the first and foremost thing they should be doing is listening to the communities and people at the heart of the issue.
Paediatrician
What challenges have you faced as an LGBTQ+ individual working in healthcare, and what advice would you give to others facing similar challenges?
I've been fortunate not to experience too many difficulties, but that is not a universal experience at all. For me, the greatest challenge is probably getting people to be more open-minded and realise that the world around us is moving on and we need to accept and adopt that. People need to start thinking beyond the male, cis-gendered, heterosexual 'norms' that we often see in healthcare and realise that the world is so much more than that, and our patients need more. For those facing their own challenges, I would say find the champions where you are. Find the people who are doing the right thing and join them. It is no longer acceptable to tolerate or work with non-inclusive values, and there are people actively working to change that – both within and without your local organisations.
Could you share a specific moment or experience where your identity played a significant role in shaping your approach to patient care or advocating for inclusivity within the NHS?
I work with children and young people in A&E. We are the first port-of-call for people in distress due to physical, mental or social issues. There are lots of times when I know that a young person has valued me being openly who I am and behaving in an inclusive way because it has created a safe space for them, in an otherwise frightening environment. That could be anything from me asking the right questions and using language that doesn't assume who they are, to just wearing symbols of inclusion and understanding – like my NHS rainbow badge! Small gestures like this really can make a huge difference to a young person's experience of healthcare – especially those who might be LGBTQ+.
What steps can be taken to further address inequality and discrimination within the NHS, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community?
If any organisation wants to do better, the first and foremost thing they should be doing is listening to the communities and people at the heart of the issue. Often decisions are made by people who may not even have any lived experience. We have a phrase in young people's healthcare: no decision about me without me. Secondly, make the change happen. It is pointless having countless meetings and discussions if no real change results from them. Just do it. Make things better. There's no argument: it is the right thing to do. And finally, for anyone working to create more inclusive places and practices, actively think about who you may inadvertently be excluding. Is there someone who should also be at the table that isn't. And perhaps we need to work a bit harder to make sure those quieter voices are heard just as loudly as everyone else.
Do you think equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) roles in the NHS are important? If so, why?
Of course. That's like saying: is it right to make our workplaces more welcoming for everyone and make sure that we're not being racist, homophobic, transphobic or sexist. Of course it's right and these roles must exist. But we must also make sure that these roles have the power to bring about change. They cannot and must not ever be a 'tick box' exercise. The NHS is lagging behind in terms of EDI when compared to other industries. It should be leading the way. Our job is to care for everyone.
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