The NHS Confederation’s Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network is pleased to be hosting a session at NHS ConfedExpo this year, in partnership with NHS England’s LGBTQIA+ Staff Network. Whether you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, all are welcome to join this interactive session on how the NHS can be more inclusive for both LGBTQ+ staff and patients.

The session takes place on 11 June at 12 noon–1pm at NHS ConfedExpo in Manchester. Dr Layla McCay, NHS Confederation policy director and executive lead of the Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network, shares why you should attend.

What will the session cover?

The session is designed to raise awareness and understanding of the challenges facing LGBTQ+ people working for or being cared for in the NHS. You will gain insight and practical tools to better embed LGBTQ+ inclusion within your own organisations.

Our interactive session will have six roundtables, hosted by senior LGBTQ+ leaders, designed to spark discussion, collaboration and ideas. Each table will focus on a different element of LGBTQ+ inclusion, including LGBTQ+ data collection; LGBTQ+ health inequalities; providing compassionate care; advocacy and allyship; and embedding LGBTQ+ inclusive policies in leadership.

I’ll be hosting one of the roundtables, alongside colleagues including:

• Michael Brady, National LGBT+ Health Adviser
• Melanie Holloway, Chair, NHS England’s LGBTQIA+ Staff Network
• Iain Bell, Public Health Wales
• Kelly Angus, Interim Chief People Officer, North East and Cumbria ICB
• Ian Green, Chair, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust; and Vice Chair, Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network.
   

What key opportunities or challenges in health and care will your session address, and why is this timely for delegates right now?

LGBTQ+ staff represent one in twenty of the NHS workforce, but we know that there is a significant gap in experience. Recent NHS Staff Survey results show that LGBTQ+ staff are continuing to face higher levels of bullying and harassment in the workplace, with limited progress being made. This experience gap widens even further for trans and non-binary colleagues.

Our Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network member survey last year found that LGBTQ+ staff continue to experience discrimination at work, disclosing higher rates of homophobia and transphobia even compared to the NHS Staff Survey. Crucially, only 14% of respondents felt their organisation responded swiftly when raising concerns, highlighting that LGBTQ+ staff may not feel as safe or able to be open about their experiences.

We know how vital it is to create inclusive workplace environments where all staff can thrive and be their authentic selves and this is an area where we can improve. Our NHS ConfedExpo session will raise awareness of the need for leaders, and colleagues across the NHS, to embed LGBTQ+ inclusion within their own organisations.
 

What are the top one or two things you hope delegates will take away from your session?

There will be lots of practical takeaways from our session. By joining us there you’ll be able to:

• Increase your awareness of the barriers faced by LGBTQ+ colleagues and what can be done to address these.
• Gain practical tools and ideas to help embed LGBTQ+ inclusion within your own organisations.
• Explore how the lived experience of being LGBTQ+ can affect aspects of life such as mental health, career progression and workplace wellbeing.
   

If you were to describe your session in a few words, what would these be?

Insightful. Empowering. Connecting.
 

Which other session/s at NHS ConfedExpo are you most looking forward to attending, and why?

The 10-year health plan has obviously been a big part of my year, and it'll hopefully be on the cusp of publication, so I’m excited to attend the session on The ten-year health plan: making the vision a reality.

One big aspect of the 10-year health plan is expected to be neighbourhood health, so I’ll want to catch Delivering on the promise of a neighbourhood health service.

And given the focus on productivity in the NHS, it’ll be great to hear about what’s coming up in the NHS Productivity Commission from Anita Charlesworth in The Productivity Puzzle.

What do you find most valuable from bringing health and care leaders together in an event like NHS ConfedExpo?

NHS ConfedExpo is a brilliant event – there are so many sessions to choose from, so you can tailor the content to suit your interests and areas of work. It’s an opportunity to connect with others, stay updated on the latest developments across health and care, and expand your ideas and perspectives. The exhibition is always so inspiring too, with organisations showcasing innovation and good practice. It’s also free to attend for NHS Confederation members and NHS organisations. I hope to see many of you there!

Find out more about our session and book your place. 

Dr Layla McCay

Director of Policy, NHS Confederation