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Encouraging news for NHS workers?
BMA
Report concludes the NHS has positive attitude towards LGBT medical staff
"The NHS has come a long way in recognising sexual and gender equality since it was founded in 1948"
The British Medical Association (BMA) has produced a report claiming that attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual medical staff in the NHS has improved over the years.
The BMA report, which asked LGBT medics working in various positions about their experiences in the NHS, has been published as part of LGBT History Month, which is celebrated throughout February.
Despite equality organisation Stonewall reporting last month that parts of the NHS are openly homophobic, the BMA study paints the NHS in a positive light.
Dr Justin Varney, co-chair of the BMA’s Equal Opportunities Committee said:
“Societal attitudes towards homosexuality have changed over the years. There was a time when homosexuals were imprisoned as criminals and treated with electroshock therapy to ‘cure them of their disease'.
"The 2004 Gender Recognition Act was a major step forward and at last offers legal protection to homosexuals.
"Like the UK, the NHS has come a long way in recognising sexual and gender equality since it was founded in 1948.
"Many of the stories in the report show that LGBT doctors are out and proud at work and this is brilliant news, however, there are still accounts of discrimination which shows we still have a long way to go."
Despite the largely encouraging findings, only two NHS bodies were listed on Stonewalls Top 100 employers list last year.
In addition to this a report in 2008 suggested that nearly half of lesbian and bisexual women surveyed did not come out to their GP for fear of being discriminated against.
