Identity crisis

THE NHS’s intention to question all who attend GP or hospital appointments as to their sexuality (Mail) is yet another example of how this country is paying lip service to minority factions.

Having worked in a role involving data collection, collation and analysis from organisations providing play and youth sessions for children and young people, I know that those organisations working with LGBT young people were against sharing or providing personal data.

Their argument was that many of those attending were unsure of their sexuality, had not come out to parents, family or friends or were at risk of discrimination should this information become known.

They were deeply concerned as to the security of any data collected and who might access it, so they would not provide anything other than anonymous figures.

It now appears that following a decision taken by the LGBT Foundation, we are all expected to provide sensitive information without any thought as to what this might be used for, who may have access to it or the subsequent risk it may have to individuals or groups.

I assume this move is more about identifying the number of LGBT people in the population, a figure the Foundation has struggled to provide as many will not give details because of fears of who might see it.

Given the concerns raised on questions on gender in the census that many feel are intrusive, how will the NHS survey be any different?

MARTIN BELL, Manchester.