05/07/2020
Many people will be taking part in a UK wide clap of thanks for the National Health Service (NHS) this Sunday night at 7pm. The clap is not without its critics – we have met many LGBTQ workers and people from immigrant backgrounds who are all exasperated at the sudden public outpouring of affection for the NHS in the wake of coronavirus. Where were all these people during the AIDS pandemic it has been asked, and when the NHS has to make a difficult decision about turning off life support to a child, will all the twitter users be forming alliances with Christian fundamentalists to screech hatred at health workers. Only time will tell. However, this opportunity, the seventy second anniversary of the NHS gives us the opportunity to reflect on the intimate relationship between LGBTQ people and the country's health service. Many LGBTQ people have given their careers to the NHS, and we salute them for it. Indeed, many of our friends and bar acquaintances help keep the health system working. They range from psychiatrists, to ambulance drivers, to administration staff. At every level of this incredible organisation, there are LGBTQ people making it happen. There is an important NHS LGBTQ Staff Network, which works to make all health environments a welcoming place for our community. It works in partnership with the NHS in England, with NHS Cymru and NHS Scotland. Membership is open to all NHS England staff who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and those with a positive interest in driving forward diversity and inclusion within NHS England as an employer. But of course, the NHS doesn't always get it right. And for this reason, we need Patient Groups, charities and self help groups to compliment the work of the NHS. We are pleased to note that charities involved in all manner of Health care, from the British Heart Foundation to the Depression Alliance, and everything in between, have strong LGBTQ groups.
The NHS – Happy Birthday from Your LGBTQ Users and Fans, and our solidarity to all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Gender Non Binary people who make it happen.
Don't forget that if you are in hospital for any reason, you will probably find yourself in the range of a local hospital radio station. These services, are – like community radio – voluntary. Why not get involved and make sure that they also have LGBTQ voices on them. In Bristol, the local hospital station is BHBS http://bhbsradio.com/ and in Weston is Sunshine Hospital Radio http://www.sunshinehospitalradio.co.uk/index.htm.
