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You are here: Topic Guides LGBTQ+ Health
Want to provide the right support for staff and patients, but don’t know where to start? This LGBTQ+ topic guide is updated regularly with reports, briefs and policies so you can deliver the best care.
Here at Leeds Libraries for health we aim to put LGBTQ+ healthcare at the forefront of our research. If there is something else that you would like to see added here or want research directly emailed to your inbox, please contact us.
Content on this page is based on the Pride bulletin produced by United Lincs NHS library service. Contact lthstafflibraries@nhs.net to receive the bulletin direct to your inbox.
News
GPs halting transgender patients’ hormone treatment or refusing prescriptions, investigation reveals
Billie Gay Jackson & Holly Bancroft. The Independent. 7 December 2024.
Kamilla Kamaruddin, who has been a GP for two decades and is currently a lead clinician at the East of England Gender Service, said that the issue of care being refused or withdrawn from transgender people has become more frequent. “GPs who refuse to prescribe are still in the minority but we’re seeing more and more GPs who are refusing to prescribe on the basis that they don’t have the expertise ... even though they have already done the prescribing for a very long time,” she said. “If a GP didn’t know how to treat a heart condition they’d ask a cardiologist – they’d get advice and guidance … for some GPs this doesn’t seem to apply to treating trans people.” The General Medical Council, the regulator of doctors in the UK, has previously stated to GPs that the provision of HRT prescriptions to transgender adults is not a highly specialist area and does not require specific expertise.
Published research
How to Best Support Transgender and Nonbinary Young People
The Trevor Project, November 2024
Support from others, especially parents and caregivers, is crucial for the well-being of transgender, nonbinary, and gender questioning young people, as it provides a solid foundation for their development and health.
Building a Cancer Care Clinic for Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals
Mayo Clinic proceedings. Innovations, quality & outcomes, October 2024
Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people experience disparities in cancer care, including more late-stage diagnoses, worse cancer-related outcomes, and an increased number of unaddressed and more severe symptoms related to cancer and cancer-directed therapy. This article outlines plans to address the unique needs of TGD people through a TGD-focused oncology clinic.
Key papers and reports
The illusion of inclusion? LGBTQ+ staff experience in healthcare
NHS Confederation, 28 November 2024
LGBTQ+ staff represent one in 20 of the NHS workforce. While some great examples of LGBTQ+ inclusion were shared, particularly from chairs and leads of LGBTQ+ staff networks, it is clear that there is more work to do. Creating environments where all staff feel safe, included and able to thrive enables better patient experience and outcomes for all communities.
Trans Inclusive Healthcare: A Brief Intro
TransActual, updated November 2024
Ultimately, good trans-inclusive healthcare is simply good patient-centred care. However, there are some issues around healthcare that are specific to trans people or are more likely to apply to trans people.
Trans Inclusive Healthcare?: Trans people’s experiences accessing healthcare in the UK
TransActual
Transgender and non-binary individuals face unique challenges and disparities in accessing healthcare services, including barriers related to discrimination, lack of understanding among healthcare providers, and limited availability of transgender-affirming care.
Blogs / Commentary / Editorials / Opinion Pieces
Heartstopper: 'How Netflix show's eating disorder story helps me'
BBC News, October 2024
The latest series of popular LGBT teen drama Heartstopper is all about Nick and Charlie’s relationship. But this series also brings Charlie’s eating disorder to the fore, a topic that is rarely talked about in the LGBT community despite studies showing it's a common experience.
LGBT+ experiences of bereavement and grief
Safe Aging No Discrimination, October 2024
Emerging from the concept of disenfranchised grief, Cruse Bereavement Support and SAND recognise the travesty of people being excluded from the death and dying of the people they love and the ongoing impact that this has on all concerned. Increasingly, as a society we are talking and hearing more about good deaths and recognise the need to be part of those conversations. This short film highlights the unique additional complexities that need to be validated and considered.
Transgender civil servants report rise in bullying, harassment and discrimination
Civil Service World, September 2024
One in five transgender officials said they were discriminated against at work in 2023, new People Survey data shows
Useful websites
Stonewall UK
Includes many links to information and support for LGBT communities and their allies.
LGBT Foundation - Home
LGBT Foundation is a national charity delivering advice, support and information services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities.
LGBT Switchboard
A helpline that provides an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men and bisexual and trans people – and anyone considering issues around their sexuality and/or gender identity.
Queer / LGBTQIA+ Menopause (queermenopause.com)
My mission is to promote inclusive menopause resources for those who need them, and greater education for therapists and healthcare practitioners about the needs of LGBTQIA+ people in menopause.
LGBTQ+ Book Club
Intrested in joining our LGBTQ+ book club? Drop us an email and get on the list! Our bi-monthly book club is a chance for you to meet people from your community across Pan Leeds. This 30 minute slot will push you out of your literatre comfort zone while still giving an opportunity for a mental well being break.
Our friendly library team can signpost you to local book shops or your local public library to track down a copy.
Struggling for time but still want to come along? We can email you a PDF of the first chapter so you can still join in without impacting your work load.
Our next online meet up will be in feburay where we will be reading The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Find out more here
Profession and specialty networks and resources
NHS ENGLAND Equalites and health inequalities HUB
Within this hub you will find information about NHS England’s statutory responsibilities around equalities and health inequalities and the national NHS programmes in these areas.
LGBT+ mental health services map
"List of charities and organisations providing mental health and suicide prevention support for people who identify as LGBTQI+."
National Ambulance LGBT Network
"Understanding Trans Service Users: Ambulance Service Perspective "
National LGBT Partnership
"The National LGBT Partnership was established in early 2010, in order reduce health inequalities and challenge homophobia, biphobia and transphobia within public services. The Partnership combines the expertise of thirty-eight key LGBTQIA+ organisations across England, and works closely with many more."
Breaking down the barriers to LGBTIQ+ healthcare inclusive cancer care.
OUTpatients. The UK's LGBTQI+ cancer chairty
We have created this booklet as an overview of some of our core information and training to help you to begin to improve the LGBTQI+ inclusivity of your cancer services.
Working with transgender people in physiotherapy practice
This guidance supports CSP members in improving the health of communities, including people who are transgender, through high-quality physiotherapy
Further reading & books.
Check out our own LGBT+ book collection consisting of both clinical and wellbeing books.
Podcasts
Who’s Being Left Out of Inclusion? The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid
Element of Inclusion Podcast. 10 December 2024.
So much DEI work is focused on people at the top of an organisation. Too many people forget about people at the bottom. Key yopics covered in This episode:
- How DEI is preoccupied with senior leaders
- Why there’s an opportunity at the bottom of the pyramid
- 3 groups who are often overlooked and why they matter
New, more dangerous MPOX strain - what can we do?
Queer AF, September 2024
In this episode of What The Pox?, host Martin Joseph explores the resurgence of news about MPOX in 2024 after it is once again declared a global health emergency by the WHO in August 2024. The episode unpacks the spread of the more dangerous Clade 1B virus
2024 LGBTIQ+ Workplace Inclusion Symposium
Workplace Pride YouTube channel. 17 September 2024.
The 2024 LGBTIQ+ Workplace Inclusion Symposium brought together thought leaders and professionals to explore the latest research on LGBTIQ+ inclusion. Dr. Erin Cech (University of Michigan) and Prof. Dr. Jojanneke van der Toorn (Leiden University) delivered impactful keynote presentations, delving into groundbreaking studies. A panel of researchers and D&I experts from both the public and private sectors reflected on the findings, sharing practical strategies for fostering inclusive workplaces.
Podcast - Voices from the LGBT+ Community
How can we improve LGBTQ+ cancer care? – That Cancer Conversation podcast
The Provider Podcast: Pride within providers
Local networks and plans
LGBT+ Staff Network - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (leedsth.nhs.uk)
The network aims to provide a point of contact and support for LGBT+ staff and allies in the workplace.
Make your pledge
The NHS Rainbow Badges initiative started at Evelina Children’s Hospital in London and has quickly gained pace throughout the NHS. We are proud to be joining the movement and making a public commitment to support both patients and staff that identify as LGBT+.
Increased awareness of the issues surrounding LGBT+ people when accessing healthcare on the part of NHS staff can make significant differences to LGBT+ peoples’ experiences, and, in turn on their physical and mental health. The badge is a reminder that you can talk to our staff about who you are and how you feel. They will do their best to get support for you if you need it.
NHS confederation
Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network
LGBT+ SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Check out local sport groups in the Leeds area
Library Services
Is there a LGBTQ+ information need we are not meeting?
Let us know and we can provide the results with a literature search.
Request an evidence search - Leeds Libraries
Want to undertake your own LGBT+ health research?
Not sure where to start? We can provide training on how to search and appraise resources on our healthcare databases.
Information Skills Training - Leeds Libraries
Want the lasted LGBT+ health evidence direct to your inbox?
Let us know if you have a speciality or just want the highlights of the latest evidence.
Contact lthstafflibraries@nhs.net for more details.