In 2018 DHU Healthcare joined the national Rainbow Badge initiative. Rainbow Badges are an initiative that provides staff with a way to show that DHU Healthcare offers open, non-judgemental and inclusive care for patients and their families, who identify as LGBT+ (The "plus" is inclusive of other groups, such as asexual, intersex, queer, questioning).
The Rainbow Badge initiative was started at Evelina London Children’s Hospital to make a positive difference by promoting a message of inclusion.
What do I need to do?
If you work for DHU Healthcare you want to commit to the programme, please complete the form below.
You can then collect your Rainbow Badge from one of the chosen representatives.
By choosing to wear this badge, you are sending a message that ‘you can talk to me’. You aren’t expected to have the answers to all issues and concerns but you are a friendly ear, and will know how to signpost people to the support available.
Lesbian, gay and transgender (LGBT+) patients face inequalities in their experience of NHS healthcare. A recent Stonewall survey published in Nov 2018 estimates that one in five LGBT+ people are not out to any healthcare professional about their sexual orientation when seeking general medical care, and one in seven LGBT+ people avoid treatment for fear of discrimination.
Despite the progress made towards LGBT+ equality in recent years, many LGBT+ people still face significant barriers in their everyday life and challenges when accessing healthcare services have contributed towards this.
Increased awareness of the issues surrounding LGBT+ people when accessing healthcare on the part of NHS staff can make significant differences to their experience, and in turn on their physical and mental health.
To find out more about the challenges faced in relation to sexuality and gender, please read Stonewall’s LGBT+ in Britain health report. Regardless of whether or not you are wearing a badge there are simple things everyone can all do to promote inclusion, such as:
- Using inclusive language in all discussions
- Affirming the identity that a person chooses to use
- Assuring confidentiality
You may be the first person someone has ever felt confident enough to open up to about how they feel, especially with the younger LGBT+ community. For them, it may be one of the most important moments of their life, and how you respond to it is something they will remember and can play a key role in making the overall experience better.
Simple visible symbols, such as these rainbow badges, can make a big difference for those unsure of both themselves and of the reception they will receive if they disclose their sexuality and/or gender identity.
The badges aren’t designed as a symbol intended to prompt people to open up to you, but they may prompt a person to disclose information about their own sexuality or gender identity, perhaps for the first time. Wearing a badge doesn’t mean you’ll have all the answers but most importantly you should be prepared to listen and signpost to relevant information.
If you are specifically worried that there is an immediate or serious risk to the young person’s physical or mental health, then you should escalate to the Safeguarding team in line with DHU procedure.
Rainbow Badge Pledge form
If you want to commit to the programme, please complete this form:
You can then collect your Rainbow Badge from one of the chosen representatives.
For non-urgent queries, you can email the team behind the rainbow badges project at DHU.Communications@DHUHealthCare.nhs.uk
Where to signpost young people for support:
- Juno Dawson’s This Book is Gay is a guide to sexuality and gender for young people, written by a young adult author
- The charity Stonewall have excellent resources to support LGBT+ young people including:
- Information for young people who are coming out for the first time
- Coming Out! Answers to some of the questions you may have
- Gendered Intelligence is a not-for-profit community interest company aiming to increase understanding of gender diversity—they have produced A Guide for Young Trans People in the UK
- The charity Mermaids work to raise awareness about gender nonconformity in children and young people with lots of useful information about gender on their website for young people and their families
- The Albert Kennedy Trust provides support for LGBT+ young people who are homeless or living in a hostile home environment
Additional resources
Directory of LGBT+ support organisations
The Rainbow badges are only available to DHU healthcare employees.
Do you have a question about the initiative? Please email: