NHS rainbow badges

[YesIWorkForTheNHS]

As per (shiny new) user name, I work for the NHS. They're bringing in rainbow badges and lanyards at my trust (Google NHS rainbow badges if you want).

Anyone want to help me disentagle / articulate what I think about this?

On the one hand, I want to be inclusive (in the sense that I want everyone to have equal access to healthcare, and remove barriers - real or perceived - to people accessing what we offer). But biological sex matters, particularly in healthcare, and I think we should be held to high standards wrt equality of access for everyone (including women and girls) whether or not we are wearing stripy accessories.

I'm ignoring it for now. But I've had plenty of people tell me how great it is. I have friends at work who know what I believe wrt sex and gender, but I'm not sure I want to have an all-out discussion about my decision not to signal "my tribe" with a badge. The rainbow does not (any longer) represent my beliefs.

I also work for the NHS and have a rainbow lanyard - no one made me wear it, I wanted to. If you don't agree or have reservations then just don't have one

Do you not worry that some patients will see it and assume you are intolerant of their religious views? Or that you know about the current issues lesbians are having at the hands of stonewall but don’t give a fuck?

As a hospital mum who pretty much lives on the kiddy oncology ward, I would struggle to trust you (I see the awful side effects of cancer drugs and am very worried about adults who think it ok to give otherwise healthy kids powerful drugs to block puberty).

The lanyards are not for practitioners benefit tho they are for the benefit of pxs and all px needs should be considered equally. I personally wouldn't have a problem as I think most people wearing them would have the best of intentions, but there are some people who (as evidenced on this board) would be uncomfortable and their feelings as potential pxs should also be taken into account therefore by wearing them although you are making some px feel more comfortable (which I am sure you could convey equally well with your actions and care) you are inadvertently causing discomfort to other px.

A lanyard should not be needed as people should be neutral at work.

This, exactly.

There are nine protected characteristics in the EA2010 and I am legally and professionally required to consider all nine of them in my job. As I said upthread, my lanyard that says "staff" should be sufficient indication that I will do that. I don't do so reluctantly either, I could get a job doing something else if I didn't want to be bound by the rules of the my profession or didn't want the legal duties that come as part of working for a university.

Px being NHS-speak for patients?

Px being NHS-speak for patients?

The Internet says Px in a medical context is "prognosis" and "patient experience", so if it is "patient" in the NHS, it's unique to the NHS.

Sorry yes force of habit.

Hearts in the right place - but where are their brains?

Thanks for clarifying.

Also this: As a hospital mum who pretty much lives on the kiddy oncology ward, I would struggle to trust you (I see the awful side effects of cancer drugs and am very worried about adults who think it ok to give otherwise healthy kids powerful drugs to block puberty).

Stonewall / Pride / Mermaids all push for gender nonconforming kids (many of whom would have otherwise grown up gay) to be put on puberty blockers, aka drugs like Lupron, whose effects are described here:
www.nwhn.org/lupron-what-does-it-do-to-womens-health/. That’s something else the rainbow symbolises to us. Child gay conversion therapy through drugging & later surgery, resulting in sterility & all the other lovely side effects.

I'm an HCA, I'm not wearing a rainbow badge firstly because, well I couldn't be bothered to go all the way to the main entrance from our ward to get one!

Most importantly though because I feel I'm a nice tolerant person who is trying to be as un-prejudiced as possible & I don't feel I need a badge or a patronising certificate to 'prove' that I can treat my patients as equals or to 'show' that I'm a friend to LGBTQ's etc.

The HCPs I know who are gay & trans know I'm happy to be their colleague, & any gay & trans patients should know from my actual uniform & demeanour to expect good treatment.

I've only cared for 1 trans patient that I've been aware of in 18 years of frontline caring. She (there was no way you could tell she'd once been male) was in a side room because she was sadly dying.

But I have several trans colleagues who I see facing nasty verbal abuse regularly to their face or behind their backs from patients and staff. I always call out nasty behaviour whoever it's directed at.

I don't really know what my views are on the trans issue regarding self Id but I don't agree with individuals getting abuse.
Again, I don't need to wear a special badge to show that I will call out abusive behaviour.

@DuMondeB I didn't say I worked with patients. My point still stands, it's completely up to the individual - the NHS isn't forcing anyone to wear them.

There seems to be quite a number of HCPs who have come onto this thread and completely ignored the comments from potential patients of theirs saying they feel excluded/uncomfortable about Rainbow lanyards and the use of political slogans in the nhs. Instead they have responded with “well I like it and I don’t care about anyone else’s view” which seems to perfectly sum up the ‘rainbow philisophy’.

Philosophy

RTFT syndrome, Birds.

To the poster who suggested a purple ribbon, this is a fantastic suggestion, I work in sexual health and could be fantastic for our patients who have experienced sexual assault/ abuse, I’m taking that straight to my manager come Monday

Empress if you rtfs you will see I have commented throughout. Which bit is my comment did you disagree with? Do you deny their are HCP who are saying “I also work for the NHS and have a rainbow lanyard - no one made me wear it, I wanted to. If you don't agree or have reservations then just don't have one”

I think Empress was agreeing with you and pointing out that those HCPs hadn't read the thread, Birds

I think Empress was agreeing with you and pointing out that those HCPs hadn't read the thread, Birds

Yes, this. Thanks Eresh. Sorry for not being clearer Birds, I was agreeing with you! I think those HCPs are just responding to the first post and missing the part about how badly the rainbow affects a lot of women.

Rather disturbing that people in caring roles have such a me me me view of the matter

Shouldn't everyone working in the NHS be offering a high standard of care to people disclosing or needing treatment for sexual abuse? I had no idea purple stood for that. It does imply those not wearing ribbons are less empathetic.
It is getting a bit silly when patients are expected to not only get an appointment with a health care professional who can deal with their particular problem but also make sure they are wearing the right coloured ribbon.

Not only that, 2rebecca, but that patients themselves ate expected to know which colour corresponds with what.

I had no idea what the purple lanyard means, but if I had suffered sexual abuse I wouldn’t expect to have to seek out a particular HCP to ensure I was treated with compassion and respect.

Sorry, that’s pretty much what you posted, 2rebecca .

Oops sorry. Empress

No problem Birds.

the NHS isn't forcing anyone to wear them.

No, but you will be forcing us to look at them.

And there is a bit of ‘why aren’t you wearing it?’. As someone further up said, a bit like when someone on tv doesn’t wear a poppy in November.