A study into LGBT people’s experiences of primary care services.

Key findings:

• LGBT people who disclosed their sexual orientation to their GP were 21.4% more likely to feel their GP met their health needs as an LGBT person than patients who did not disclose.
• Trans men and trans women who disclosed their trans status to their GP were 62.1% more likely to feel their GP met their health needs as an LGBT person than trans men and trans women who didn’t disclose.
• None of the trans men or trans women who had not disclosed their trans status to their GP felt their GP met their needs as an LGBT person.
• Non-binary people who disclosed their trans status to their GP were 5.7% more likely to feel their GP met their health needs as an LGBT person than non-binary people who didn’t disclose.
• Across all primary care services just over half (53.4%) of people had a positive or very positive response when they disclosed their sexual orientation and just under half (44.4%) had a positive or very positive response when they disclosed their trans status.
• LGBT people often receive inappropriate treatment and advice from primary care services due to a lack of knowledge about the ways in which health needs of LGBT patients differ from the needs of heterosexual and cisgender patients.
• LGBT people face many health inequities, causing a disparity between the health outcomes of LGBT communities and the general population. LGBT people are more likely to experience risk factors to their health, including problematic drug and alcohol use, poor diet and nutrition, and smoking. LGBT communities are more likely to experience mental health difficulties and less likely to access primary care.
• 62% of the suggestions made by LGBT people on how services could improve experiences for LGBT patients mentioned visibility; they wanted to see LGBT literature and posters, a Pride in Practice award, and acknowledgement of non-binary identities when registering and signing in for appointments.