Deep inequalities in health outcomes for LGBT communities

The Women and Equalities Committee has said that LGBT people are being let down in hospitals by structures and services that are not inclusive or designed with them in mind.

A new report by the group of MPs found that LGBT people are too often expected to fit into systems that assume they are straight and cisgender, with a lack of leadership in government, NHS and social services also contributing to deep inequalities in health outcomes for these communities.

The committee further warns that treating such patients ‘the same’ as non-LGBT people will not address these poor outcomes. Poorer outcomes were found to exist in levels of smoking and smoking cessation, alcohol abuse, and even cancer outcomes.

While some of the disparities have been uncovered, many of the inequalities remain hidden, as data collection is poor and patchy across health and social care services. The committee therefore recommends that sexual orientation and gender identity monitoring should be made mandatory by the NHS and social care sector within the next 12 months.

Also, where change is happening, the MPs report that the work is driven by committed individuals in a piecemeal fashion rather than by senior leaders in the NHS, councils or the government.

Maria Miller, chair of the committee, said: “We found a lot of good will in health and social care services to make them LGBT inclusive, and examples of good practice that must be shared and embedded in our services. But unfortunately, the best will in the world won’t change the systemic failings in areas such as data-collection and training that are leading to poorer experience when accessing services, and to poorer health outcomes for LGBT people.
     
“This can never be acceptable. LGBT-specific services play an essential role in the health and social care services for the moment and must be maintained as long as that’s necessary, but mainstream services must move now ensure that they are inclusive and are effectively identifying and taking into account the needs of the LGBT communities. We must eliminate the unacceptable inequalities in health outcomes that glare out wherever you look.”