LGBTIQ+

We Are LGBTIQ+ Friendly

We are committed to ensuring patients feel confident to use our services and we are trying to ensure all our patients feel supported and listened to.

We like to ensure we are using your preferred name and pronouns, we encourage patients to attend organ specific screening, if you would like to discuss this further or would like to speak to someone regarding your medical record or registration please email our Quality Improvement Manager- Tyne (She/Her): qi.team@nhs.net

It is also important to know that we are not a gender clinic and can’t issue bridging prescriptions or take on shared care agreements from private organisations which are not recognised by the NHS.

We are currently only accepting new registrations for patients that live within our catchment area- more information can be found here How to Register | Westbourne Medical Centre

Here is an article published with NHS Dorset- GP Practice taking Pride to ensure inclusive care for all patients – NHS Dorset

Information regarding organ specific screening can be found here- NHS population screening: information for trans and non-binary people – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What we are doing…

• We are updating patients preferred names including pronouns on their medical record.
• Changing patients gender on their medical record if requested.
• Raising awareness regarding organ specific screening.
• Reviewing our policies to be inclusive and support the LGBTQ+ Community.
• All staff are undertaking ongoing training to be sensitive and supportive to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.
• If you have any questions about the services we provide please email- Tyne (She/ Her) – qi.team@nhs.net

There is further information and support available and below

TERMINOLOGY

LESBIAN

A woman whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction is to other women. Some lesbians may prefer to identify as gay or as gay women.

GAY

The adjective describes people whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions are to people of the same sex. Sometimes lesbian is the preferred term for women.

BISEXUAL

A person who can form enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or more than one gender. People may experience this attraction in differing ways and degrees over their lifetime. Bisexual people need not have had specific sexual experiences to be bisexual; they need not have had any sexual experience at all to identify as bisexual.

TRANSGENDER

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. People under the transgender umbrella may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms— including transgender or nonbinary. Some transgender people are prescribed hormones by their doctors to bring their bodies into alignment with their gender identity. Some undergo surgery as well. But not all transgender people can or will take those steps, and a transgender identity is not dependent upon physical appearance or medical procedures.

QUEER

An adjective used by some people whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual or straight. This umbrella term includes people who have nonbinary, gender-fluid, or gender nonconforming identities. Once considered a pejorative term, queer has been reclaimed by some LGBTQIA+ people to describe themselves; however, it is not a universally accepted term even within the LGBTQIA+ community.

QUESTIONING

Sometimes, when the Q is seen at the end of LGBT, it can also mean questioning. This term describes someone who is questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity.

INTERSEX

An adjective used to describe a person with one or more innate sex characteristics, including genitals, internal reproductive organs, and chromosomes, that fall outside of traditional conceptions of male or female bodies. Do not confuse having an intersex trait with being transgender. Intersex people are assigned a sex at birth — either male or female — and that decision by medical providers and parents may not match the gender identity of the child. Not all intersex folks identify as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

ASEXUAL 

The adjective describes a person who does not experience sexual attraction. Sometimes shortened to “ace,” it is an umbrella term that can also include people who are demisexual, meaning they do experience some sexual attraction; graysexual, meaning those who may not fit the strictest definition of the word asexual; and aromantic, meaning they experience little to no romantic attraction and/or has little to no desire to form romantic relationships.

NONBINARY 

The adjective describes a person whose gender is not male or female and uses many different terms to describe themselves. Other terms include genderqueer, agender, bigender, genderfluid, and more. None of these terms mean exactly the same thing – but all speak to an experience of gender that is not simply male or female.

+ PLUS

The ‘plus’ is used to signify all of the gender identities and sexual orientations that letters and words cannot yet fully describe.