Streeting orders LGBT+ health review despite axing women's target
For the first time, the NHS will conduct a six-month review of its 'unequal' treatment of LGBT+ patients. Recommendations on improving the experiences of people who consider themselves LGBT+ will be made to the Government in December, the health service said.
It is likely to ignite further criticism from women and campaigners, who accused the Health Secretary of 'sidelining' women after he removed women's health targets in annual NHS planning guidance earlier this year while also setting up a men's health strategy.
Dame Lesley Regan, the Government's women's health ambassador, previously told the Telegraph there was 'already a men's health strategy – it's called the NHS'.
At the same time, charities and Royal Colleges have criticised the Health Secretary's failure to 'reset the women's health strategy' previously set up by the Conservatives, including through the recent 10-year health plan.
Ranee Thakar, the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said the plan 'falls short in pledging to eliminate the gender health gap that is costing women years of life and good health'.
The NHS dropped a number of targets from this year's guidance, which included removing the requirement for there to be women's health hubs in all parts of England.
The health service said the LGBT review would 'build on significant evidence that LGBT+ people have worse access to healthcare, poorer experience and worse health outcomes than the general population'.
It will look at the 'barriers' in accessing care such as therapy, cancer screening and GP appointments.
LGBT people are more likely to have mental health conditions and poor experiences of NHS services, including GPs, according to a recent patient experience survey.
The review will focus on the care of people aged 16 and older but consider the experiences of children aged 13 to 15 as well.
However, it will not look at NHS gender services for children or adults, or social care services, for which there have been or are separate reviews ongoing.
Mr Streeting said: 'The NHS is at its best when it serves everyone equally – but evidence shows this hasn't been happening. For too many LGBT+ people, accessing quality healthcare remains a challenge, and one often marked by discrimination, misunderstanding, and mis-education.
'That's why I've commissioned a comprehensive review into LGBT+ health inequalities – because every patient deserves dignity, respect, and excellent care, regardless of who they are or who they love.'
Fiona McAnena, the director of campaigns at the human rights charity Sex Matters, said: 'Looking at the particular healthcare needs of population subgroups is commendable. But nothing useful can emerge if the members have little in common.
'LGBT+ is not a homogeneous group. NHS England has previously commissioned work on the healthcare needs of women who sleep with women – its label – and separately for men who sleep with men, recognising that the two groups are quite different.
'Trans-identified individuals range from school-age girls and boys to elderly men, both gay and straight. When it comes to healthcare, each of these subgroups surely has more in common with others of their age and sex. As for the plus in LGBT+, what on earth does it mean?'
The review will be led by Dr Michael Brady, NHS England's LGBT+ adviser. He said: 'It's unacceptable that LGBT+ people have a poorer overall experience of health services, which leads to worse health outcomes.
'This is the first review to look in depth at this issue and make recommendations which will help the NHS better meet the health needs of LGBT+ people.'
The review is welcoming relevant submissions until the end of August and will look at a range of information and data, including unpublished research.
It says it will continue use the 'LGBT+ acronym' but 'we recognise that the LGBT+ community is diverse and intersectional, reflecting gender diversity and a number of minority sexual orientations'.
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