Subject : UK: Deep-rooted homophobia plagues the NHS [Pink News]

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Deep-rooted homophobia plagues the NHS

The report found that discrimination against
LGB nurses is widespread across the UK,
regardless of seniority or practice area.

Pink News - 20th June 2007
Tony Grew
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The Royal College of Nursing has backed calls for 'explicit and
proactive' training in the NHS to combat LGB prejudice.

Nurses and other health workers need to be educated about their rights
and managers need to send out the message that homophobia is
unacceptable are other recommendations from a report by Stonewall.

The gay equality organisation presented Being the Gay One: Experiences
of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People Working in the Health and Social
Care Sector this week.

The report found that discrimination against LGB nurses is widespread
across the UK, regardless of seniority or practice area.

Many resort to concealing their sexuality or leaving the profession
altogether.

Ruth Hunt, Head of Policy and Research at Stonewall, told
PinkNews.co.uk:

"We are shocked by some of the incidents of discrimination that this
report raises.

"We hope that the health and social care sector will use this
opportunity to start to seriously consider the steps it can take to
protect all lesbian and gay staff.

"The sector has a very clear responsibility to protect all staff from
discrimination."

Drew Payne, a nurse trainer, told magazine Nursing Standard's recent
special issue to mark gay history month:

"I did a rough straw poll last year and contacted 20 universities to see
if they gave any training on LGB issues. Only one did. That is very
telling.

"We need to celebrate the fact that there are so many LGB nurses. They
should not be hidden away."

The RCN's sexual orientation equality champion, Tina Donnelly,
commented:

"'The report outlined some of the most appalling and distressing forms
of behaviour that clearly violates and demeans the dignity of
colleagues.

"Employers must now ensure that they take decisive and concerted action
to challenge such discriminatory behaviour as well as actively embed
approaches that value the full diversity of the healthcare workforce."
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Man [...] must count no one but himself; that he is alone, abandoned on earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth." (Jean Paul Sartre, 1943)