How we are supporting LGBTQ+ patients

Standards for doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates 

We set the standards that all doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates must follow. In our Personal beliefs and medical practice and Good medical practice guidance, we say that doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates  must treat you fairly and without discrimination, whatever your sexual orientation, gender identity or trans status.

We also say that doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates must not deny you access to appropriate treatment or services because of their personal beliefs. And they must be careful not to express their personal beliefs in a way that is likely to cause you distress.

On our Trans healthcare pages we provide advice and tips for doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates on how to make their practice more inclusive.   

Working with LGBTQ+ patients

Our outreach teams work with LGBTQ+ patients to better understand your health needs. We also involve LGBTQ+ groups in our policy work to make sure it reflects your needs and concerns. During our consultation on how patient feedback is used in revalidation, we worked with the LGBT Foundation. The term ‘revalidation’ means regular appraisals in which all doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates reflect on their practice. This information helps us decide whether they continue to meet the standards we set. We worked with the LGBT Foundation during that consultation to understand patients’ fears around giving feedback about their doctor. We also work with expert organisations such as Stonewall and GLADD (The Association of LGBTQ+ Doctors and Dentists) to make sure our work reflects issues facing LGBTQ+ patients.

Education and assessments

Our outreach teams incorporate LGBTQ+ scenarios into their teaching sessions with doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates. For example, we use a scenario of a doctor discriminating against a gay person as part of our leadership and management guidance session.  

We also include questions involving LGBTQ+ patients in our tests for doctors who qualified abroad and want to work in the UK. 

Complaints about patient care

We take seriously any allegation that a doctor, physician associate or anaesthesia associate has failed to follow our guidance and we will look into all concerns raised with us. We collect data on the complaints we receive, including those related to a doctor, physician associate or anaesthesia associate discriminating against a patient due to them being LGBTQ+.