LGBTQ+ Experiences of health and social care services in Leicester and Leicestershire
Download (PDF 2.4 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire wanted to understand the experiences of the LGBTQIA community in accessing and using health and social care services. They undertook a survey to which 82 people responded.
The majority of people reported that they had not experienced any difficulties in accessing services. Those who had experienced difficulties shared that there are challenges with:
- booking online appointments to start PrEP2
- finding support groups
- sexual health clinics
- assumptions made about their sexual orientation and contraception.
The majority of people reported that they had not experienced any difficulties in accessing gender identity services. Those who had experienced difficulties shared that there are challenges with:
- GP practices and obtaining prescribed hormone medication
- being misgendered by healthcare professionals
- medical systems not being able to change to their preferred name
- being deadnamed on medical systems
- being refused a blood test due to being on DIY hormones
- Long waiting times to be seen by the Gender Identity Clinic (GIC).
The majority of people did not feel that local services are ‘very knowledgeable and sensitive’ to the needs of the LGBTQIA community. Most people also responded that ‘they did not know’ for dentists and social care services.
Nearly three in five said they had experienced discrimination when using health services not very often.
The health services related to their LGBTQIA identity that needed improving were access to gender identity services, access to sexual health services, access to mental health services, a lack of sensitivity and awareness and family planning.
Sixteen people had avoided or delayed seeking care because they feared experiencing prejudice or discrimination due to their sexual orientation, including sexual health services and cervical screening. Fifteen people had delayed seeking care due to their gender identity because of lack of sensitivity from staff.
The report concludes with the changes that LGBTQIA people wanted to see to health and care.