Background to the project

According to national data, up to 5,000 people living in Gloucestershire experience some degree of gender variance.  The number of young people seeking support relating to gender identity is increasing significantly.

NHS partners in Gloucestershire are keen to build on existing relationships with representatives from the Trans community.  NHS Gloucestershire CCG is an ally of the LGBT+ Partnership in Gloucestershire , whose aims are to:

  • Promote, advance and celebrate LGBT+ equality and inclusion
  • Engage, educate, inform and include key groups, allies & services
  • Give an effective voice to the LGBT+ individuals and their allies
  • Deliver activities and events across the county of Gloucestershire
  • Support groups & organisations within the LGBT+ Partnership

Engagement Activity

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GHNHSFT) held an engagement event – “Trans workshop: getting it right for patients”- in December 2019 to discuss ideas and listen to the views of people who have used the hospital, or may need to in the future.    The workshop was attended by representatives from the Trans Community in Gloucestershire, supporting voluntary sector groups such as GlosCATS and Gay Glos, hospital staff, and Integrated Care System (ICS) partners.

The event aimed to hear about the healthcare experiences of the Trans community, explore how improvements could be made and provide them with the opportunity to shape the Trust’s Trans Care Policy.

What we learned/outcomes

What matters most to you

Helpful feedback was received on the draft policy.  The use of language and specific terminology was discussed with recognition that not all trans people will have had, or be undergoing, surgical or chemical gender reassignment.

The concept of an “About Me” card was considered and whilst received with enthusiasm, the over-riding view was that this was something that could benefit all patients.

When asked “what matters to you”, five over-arching themes were identified:

Communication:

  • Don’t make assumptions; ask me questions and communicate openly
  • Patients and staff feel empowered to present as the gender they identify as
  • Having more facilitated staff and public involvement sessions, to give staff more insight and enhance awareness

My care:

  • Treat me with compassion, dignity and respect
  • Staff complete training to improve their knowledge and understanding
  • Individualised care
  • Making sure that hormone treatment is continued while in hospital

Keep me safe:

  • Feel assured and confident that privacy/confidentiality is paramount
  • Rainbow badge wearers all feel confident to advise and support patients and colleagues
  • Keep me physically safe; be aware of my circumstances/vulnerability, help me feel psychologically safe

Personalised care:

  • Helping patients to feel like themselves – having their personal care kits on wards with hair, skin care and make-up/beauty products, as well as shaving accessories
  • Staff always ask about an individual’s preferences and what matters to them, regardless of gender identity or any protected characteristic
  • All patients are asked how they would like to be addressed and this is included in their patient record

My information:

  • Specialist guardians for patients and staff to escalate incidents anonymously
  • JUYI – electronic patient records are updated simultaneously with all health care providers in the county
  • Care of trans people is ‘normal’, not highlighted or different

 

A member of staff at GHNHSFT tweeted  a picture from the event “Learnt so much from this fabulous group of people this afternoon thank you for sharing your thoughts”

Hospital staff, members  and allies of LGBT+ Partnership and our team member, Katherine

 

 

 

Next Steps

NHS Gloucestershire CCG is working in partnership with Gloucestershire Hospitals Trust to develop the “About me” information.  The aim is that patients will be able to complete a simple card that contains any information about their wishes that they would like to share.  The draft card will be circulated to the LGBT+ Partnership and other communities, such as BAME groups and those with physical disabilities, for comment.

Circulation of the cards is yet to be finalised, with options to distribute through the Central Booking Office, GP practices and Community Nursing Teams being considered.