NHS Mid and South Essex is proud to be the first health and care system in the East of England, to commission Pride in Practice to offer free training, supported assessment and accreditation to our GP practices.
In 2019 we ran a pilot project and accredited 15 GP practices in mid Essex. We are now working to train and accredit a further 50 practices this year.
What is Pride in Practice?
Pride in Practice is an LGBT Foundation quality assurance and social prescribing programme that strengthens and develops GP practices’ relationship with their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) patients. The programme empowers practices to effectively meet the needs of LGBT people, respond to community feedback and address nationally and locally identified health inequalities.
Pride in Practice is endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the Care Quality Commission, NHS England, and the Government Equalities Office.
Why is Pride in Practice needed?
Research shows that one in seven LGBT people avoid seeking healthcare for fear of discrimination from staff and almost one in four LGBT people have witnessed discriminatory or negative remarks against LGBT people by healthcare staff.
LGBT communities experience a range of health inequalities throughout their lives. Evidence shows that LGBT people are more likely to experience increased cancer risk factors compared to the general population due to higher rates of smoking, substance misuse, poorer diet, and reduced access to sport and exercise. LGBT people are also more likely to experience poor mental health and may experience higher rates isolation and loneliness in later life.
What does Pride in Practice do?
Through training, supported assessment and accreditation, Pride in Practice supports healthcare professionals to confidently and effectively meet the needs of their LGBT patients. Relationships between primary care services and patients is strengthened through increased knowledge, active signposting and adapting services provisions to be more inclusive.
For example, Pride in Practice can give practitioners the confidence to:
- support transgender patients beginning their transition
- support gay and lesbian people wanting to adopt children
- support the delivery of effective signposting and social prescribing for LGBT communities, linking services with a range of LGBT-affirmative local community assets
You can find out more about Pride in Practice by visiting the LGBT Foundation Pride in Practice Page. If you are a practice in mid and south Essex and are interested in finding out more, please email [email protected]
Our accredited practices
Gold
- Baddow Village Surgery
- Beacon Health Group (Danbury Surgery, Mountbatten House Surgery, Moulsham Lodge Surgery)
- Beauchamp House Surgery, Chelmsford
- Blandford Medical Centre
- Burnham Surgery
- Chelmer Medical Partnership (Melbourne Medical Practice, Humber Road Surgery, Tennyson House Surgery)
- Church Lane Surgery, Braintree
- Churchview Surgery, Rayleigh
- Coggeshall Surgery
- Elizabeth Courtauld Surgey, Halstead
- Fern House Surgery, Witham
- North Chelmsford Health Centre
- Orsett Surgery
- Rivermead Gate Medical Centre, Chelmsford
- Southend Medical Centre
- Stifford Cays Medical Centre
- Tile House Surgery, Brentwood
- The Islands Surgery, Canvey
- Whitley House Surgery, Chelmsford
- Writtle Surgery
Silver
- Dengie Medical Partnership
- Longfield Medical Centre
Bronze
- Chelmer Village Surgery
- Stock Surgery
- Tollesbury Surgery