LGBT Care: The National LGB&T Partnership
Reducing health inequalities and improving access to health and social care for LGB&T people.
About
The National LGB&T Partnership was established in early 2010, in order reduce health inequalities and challenge homophobia, biphobia and transphobia within public services. As of April 2016, the Partnership combines the expertise of twelve key LGB&T organisations across England.
The partners have a long history of service delivery, working with LGBT people both locally and nationally. Services include 1-2-1 counselling, befriending, peer-support groups, helplines, community leader programmes, testing, advocacy, youth-work, HIV, housing support, drug and alcohol interventions, and much more. This enables the Partnership to act as a catalyst and connector, putting LGBT people and their issues firmly on the agenda of a wide range of decision makers.
Further organisations (both LGBT and non-LGBT) are invited to contribute to seminars and project work, based upon their particular skills and expertise.
The Partnership is a Sector Strategic Partner of the Department of Health, Public Health England and NHS England, collaborating with a wide range of organisations. It has experience of successfully influencing policy, practice and actions of Government, statutory bodies, and others.
The Partnership has identified five key objectives within health and social care:
- Act as a catalyst and connector
We’ll put LGB&T people firmly on the agenda of decision-makers; increasing visibility through attending meetings, responding to consultations, advising and collaboration.
- Drive forward Sexual Orientation Monitoring and Trans Status Monitoring.
We’ll support the implementation of monitoring, which is vital in understanding LGB&T people’s needs, especially when often: “If you aren’t counted, you don’t count”.
- Reduce health inequalities
We’ll challenge the impact of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, and work to help reduce significant health and social care inequalities faced by LGB&T people.
- Improve access to health and social care services
We’ll highlight the many barriers (both perceived and actual), which limit LGB&T people accessing the support they need; identifying solutions and best practice.
- Ensure LGBT people’s voices are heard
We’ll seek out and use the real voices and lived experiences of LGB&T people within our communities, to inform people in positions of power and influence.
In 2016, the Partnership commissioned a strategic review, undertaking consultation with both external and internal stakeholders. A summary report on the review can be found here.