Access to cancer care and information across the UK isn’t equal, and there are gaps in the care and support available. Making sure cancer care and services reach and support more LGBTQIA+ people can be a lifeline to those in need. Tracey, a Macmillan Information and Support Manager at Whittington Health, recently led a Pride In Health event with her team in London for healthcare professionals and patients. “The aim of the event was to enable LGBTQIA+ people affected by cancer, their families and healthcare professionals to come together to discuss the experiences of patients, explore service gaps that impact cancer care for LGBTQIA+ people, and provide useful information and support. “We heard people’s personal stories and experiences, from both patients and clinicians. We had a range of professional speakers providing information and wellbeing advice. People were very open in sharing personal information and stories, which was respected. “By listening directly to these voices, we aimed to better understand where services are falling short and identify what compassionate, affirming care should look like. Our goal was not only to hold a meaningful and supportive event, but also to use the insights shared to develop practical resources, including staff training tools that will help healthcare professionals improve communication, challenge assumptions, and deliver more inclusive care to LGBTQIA+ patients. “Before embarking on this project, I had some idea of the barriers people from the community faced. However, working closely with our patients from the LGBTQIA+ community and hearing their experiences, I’ve gained a much better understanding. Hearing about the fears, experiences of being treated differently or feeling not seen, as well as the micro-aggressions and the impact that has on people, left me feeling very sad and more determined for our project to hopefully make a difference. We really can’t thank all the people from the community enough, who helped us to gain insight and to shape our work.” Sexual orientation and gender identity should not affect your access to the right healthcare. But we know that sometimes LGBTQIA+ people may face extra challenges in getting the right help. It’s events like these that help services improve communication, challenge assumptions, and deliver more inclusive care to LGBTQIA+ patients. Visit our Healthcare Professionals learning hub, where we have information, resources and tools to help you with your work: https://lnkd.in/ejS6DYUD
