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Stonewall research reveals shocking gaps in lesbian healthcare

A survey carried out by Stonewall in just one city has revealed serious gaps in the provision of healthcare for lesbians. Lesbians in Brighton are almost 20 per cent less likely to have had a smear test than women in the wider population.

The survey of almost 300 women, carried out by Stonewall's policy team, covered a range of areas, including smear tests and screening, and asked lesbians about both positive or negative experiences they'd had with healthcare providers. The responses uncovered shocking incidents of lesbians being refused smear tests or suffering humiliating treatment at the hands of NHS staff.

Almost 20% fewer respondents (64%) had had a cervical smear in the last three years than the figure for women nationally (80%).
Over half had received no sexual health screening at all in the last three years, yet 69% of respondents had had sex with men in the past.
Over a third of respondents had not disclosed their sexuality to their GP.
78% of respondents drank regularly, 28% smoked and 12% said they took recreational drugs

Ruth Hunt, Stonewall Senior Policy Officer, said: "We're shocked at the discrepancy this reveals in standards of healthcare being provided in one city alone. Sadly, we fear that this snapshot of second class health treatment for lesbians may well be replicated across Britain."

Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief Executive, said: "It's deeply disturbing that the NHS is failing effectively to serve a community of women as significant as this. Some of the cases of inappropriate treatment the survey has picked up are a disgrace. Lesbians deserve exactly the same quality of care as anyone else. Stonewall now intends to carry out further research to see if this treatment pattern is repeated across the country".

One respondent disclosed that, after she had revealed her sexual orientation to her GP, the GP had put on a pair of gloves. This was unconnected with any treatment being given.
While one women was undergoing a smear test, a nurse had insisted that a male doctor be present on discovering the patient's sexual orientation.
One patient who sought GP help after her partner had died was asked if her partner had died of AIDS

For further information contact: Ruth Hunt, Senior Policy Officer, (020 7881 9466 / 07813 905 477) or Andy Forrest, Communications Officer, (020 7881 9441 / 07985 439 660) or Ben Summerskill, Chief Executive (020 7881 9446/07949 108798) Out of hours media enquiries 07985 439 660.

Notes
1. Stonewall is the gay equality organisation founded in 1989. Founding members include Sir Ian McKellen. www.stonewall.org.uk.

2. The Brighton Lesbian Health Survey, conducted in the summer of 2005, covered areas such as sexual activity, whether the respondent was registered with a GP, and whether their GP was aware of their sexuality. It asked about sexual and cervical screening and whether respondents had ever been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease. The survey also covered smoking, drinking, and recreational drug use.