NHS badges

[boydy99]

I dont know if anyone else has seen this yet. My organisation is also public sector and pro Stonewall so wondering how long it is until we have a similar policy.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/aec64082-cbb4-11eb-b575-81b2a16c3be4?shareToken=203864c87d5e4519397c8dea43d8a407

The Pride network (which, in my trust, is 80% lesbian or bi women) initiated the badges. The idea is to make LGBT people feel supported and feel safe to be open about being gay at work, if they want to do so.

80% lesbian or bi women, you say. I wonder how they established that statistic and what terminology was used in doing so.

Our trust is in too much crisis to be worrying about stuff like this. we're fire fighting all of the time so none of this stuff takes up much space.
I avoid wearing ANYTHING at work that shows my political or other alliance as we're not here for that, we're here to treat patients as individuals not force beliefs onto them and the elderly don't appreciate it.

If LGBT people feel it is difficult to access NHS healthcare (or anyone else for that matter) I think some deeper thinking and more radical action is required than wearing a lanyard tbh.

Training, full on media campaigns- isn’t this how it used to be done?

I totally see the need for something that signposts a specific skill or service eg badges that state the wearer is trained in BSL or multilingual so it’s obvious who you need to speak to about a specific need, but the NHS is should be for all, with equal treatment (that meets a specific need).
If we are to believe the NHS is riddled with homo/transphobia we need more than rainbow lanyards to sort it.

This scheme effectively means that people who wear the badge will be seen as inclusive, and those who don't as bigots.

Indeed. I think they're too divisive and therefore not appropriate. Everyone should be able to expect good, non judgemental care, this sets up an expectation that they won't.

This is not appropriate at all.

Is there any guidance or rule in the NHS about displaying religious emblems or political affiliation badges? Would a patient-facing NHS staff member be allowed to wear a crucifix pendant outside their uniform, or a SWP pin (red fist) on their lapel or lanyard?

I avoid wearing ANYTHING at work that shows my political or other alliance

A number of workplaces forbid logo'd clothing, particularly if someone is public facing.

In my view any publicly funded institution should avoid any affiliation to any political party or cause, and yes that very much includes causes I support. Especially highly public facing ones like the Health Service and Police.

These institutions are meant to serve the public good, and that includes everyone. Even those whose political affiliations one might distasteful.

Almost half of trans people (46 per cent) have tried taking their own life in the last year, 31 per cent of LGB people who aren’t trans said the same.

If this is in fact true, then we have a massive mental health crisis on our hands, an actual attempt on life is serious and needs proper timely MH care. You can't say on one hand transgenderism isn't a MH issue and then on the other make claims like this.

A good 10 years ago, but this was the case of a Christian wearing a crucifix.

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/uk/2010/apr/06/christian-nurse-loses-battle-crucifix

And this is the BA one that goes into the above case as well.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21025332.amp

@TabithaTiger

This is really normal in the NHS. We have them at my Trust, as well as rainbow lanyards. Anyone who wants one makes a pledge to say that they support LGBT+ people. It's completely voluntary and there's no pressure on anyone to sign up.

I'm a lesbian. I dread these people with their lanyards. I can't tell if the people wearing them are really LGB-friendly or whether they're wearing them because they're a bit homophobic and feel a bit guilty about it, so decide to take the pledge so no one suspects. It's human nature. Maybe they have a camp gay brother and they love him — but that doesn't mean they're going to be comfortable with a butch lesbian. There's a lot of low-level discomfort and homophobia at all levels in the NHS and lanyards aren't the solution.

@PearPickingPorky

The Pride network (which, in my trust, is 80% lesbian or bi women) initiated the badges. The idea is to make LGBT people feel supported and feel safe to be open about being gay at work, if they want to do so.

80% lesbian or bi women, you say. I wonder how they established that statistic and what terminology was used in doing so.

I'm a member of the network so I know most of the members very well, this isn't official data, just my own estimate (I should have said that).

We do ask for data about sexuality and gender in the annual staff survey (which is optional so doesn't include everyone). The annual NHS staff survey collects data about sexuality and gender, this is optional though so won't include anyone. The majority of those who chose to disclose their sexuality are lesbian women. My trust is over 80% female which explains why less gay men.

The annual NHS staff survey collects data about sexuality and gender, this is optional though so won't include anyone.

But does it define the terms "sexuality" and or "gender"?

If not, what data is it actually collecting?

agree with @TabithaTiger - this really isn’t as big a deal as it is being portrayed. The pledge is basically just so that by getting a rainbow badge you are actually agreeing to be an ally and not just to get a pretty badge.
They're NHS healthcare workers, they're supposed to treat everyone equally, without favour.
Why do they need to display their allegiance to any cause whilst at work, and what is an "ally" in that context anyway?

I'd certainly regard that badge with deep suspicion.

@Deliriumoftheendless

If LGBT people feel it is difficult to access NHS healthcare (or anyone else for that matter) I think some deeper thinking and more radical action is required than wearing a lanyard tbh.

Training, full on media campaigns- isn’t this how it used to be done?

I totally see the need for something that signposts a specific skill or service eg badges that state the wearer is trained in BSL or multilingual so it’s obvious who you need to speak to about a specific need, but the NHS is should be for all, with equal treatment (that meets a specific need).
If we are to believe the NHS is riddled with homo/transphobia we need more than rainbow lanyards to sort it.

You're absolutely correct. The badges/lanyards are a small thing that staff have chosen to do to show support, I agree it won't have any real impact.

In reality, many minority groups do not receive an equitable experience of healthcare, not just LGBT. Women, BAME, people with disabilities. The issue goes much higher than trust level though. The NHS is run by white men, however much training, funding, etc, there's a limit to what can be achieved without real, fundamental change where the power is held.

In my view, people getting all worked up about well meaning NHS employees wearing an LGBT badge just distracts from the real issues.

Get back to me when all NHS staff take a pledge to have some Deaf awareness and understanding of the need to book qualified interpreters for Deaf BSL users.

Then I'll give a flying fuck about empty pledges to the rainbow brigade.

In reality, many minority groups do not receive an equitable experience of healthcare, not just LGBT. Women, BAME, people with disabilities.
Then maybe the NHS should be making pledges to treat everyone equally, not selecting one tiny minority group to assure them of their elevated status

I find the rainbow badge/lanyard frankly terrifying.

@Ritasueandbobtoo9

I find the rainbow badge/lanyard frankly terrifying.

Ditto.

@GreyhoundG1rl

In reality, many minority groups do not receive an equitable experience of healthcare, not just LGBT. Women, BAME, people with disabilities. Then maybe the NHS should be making pledges to treat everyone equally, not selecting one tiny minority group to assure them of their elevated status

They do!

They do!

Then they need to demonstrate that by wearing as many lanyards as there are subsets of patients/staff. Might get a bit heavy and clunky though so maybe it's better not to wear any rather than pick out one group. For instance, TabithaTiger, it would appear you don't wear a purple lanyard, don't you want to be an ally to the disabled?

What Greencoatblue said. You've completely missed the point, TabithaTiger, didn't you understand it? What bit confused you?

@Greencoatblue

They do!

Then they need to demonstrate that by wearing as many lanyards as there are subsets of patients/staff. Might get a bit heavy and clunky though so maybe it's better not to wear any rather than pick out one group. For instance, TabithaTiger, it would appear you don't wear a purple lanyard, don't you want to be an ally to the disabled?

If you look at the lanyards, you'll see some staff have lots of badges pinned on - Pride network, Purple network, BAME network, freedom to speak up champion, flu champion, etc. This isn't anything new.