Doctors to be asked about sexuality
DOCTORS are to be asked about their sexual orientation under new guidelines, writes Lucy Johnston.
From this year the General Medical Council will be collecting information from all 298,232 doctors on its register about any “disability, sexual orientation or religion”.
The policy, which came to light as part of a Freedom of Information request, is intended to help the ruling body fulfil its legal equality obligations.
However some GPs and politicians have condemned the new guidance. Dr Brian Barmer, chairman of the Essex local medical committee said: “I cannot imagine any patient has any interest in my sexual orientation.
“I will tick one of the above boxes declining to comment. I don’t see this as being relevant.”
Tim Loughton, Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham said: “It’s crazy. The last thing on a patient’s mind is a doctor’s religious beliefs or where he goes at weekends or who he is sleeping with.”
But Charlie Massey, chief executive of the GMC said: “It’s important for us to understand where doctors might face inequality or discrimination. Collecting this information, provides us with a fuller picture to help us identify any issues and to address them.”
He said the information, which relies on voluntary disclosure, will “remain confidential” and be treated “with the utmost sensitivity”.
A spokeswoman for equal rights group Stonewall also welcomed the move which it said was “vital” for understanding the needs of LGBT people – both staff and service users. The move follows an NHS England directive which calls for all patients accessing NHS services from April to disclose their sexuality if aged over 16.
Policy makers insist this was introduced to ensure the NHS meets its obligations under the 2010 Equality Act and it will help them tackle health problems more prevalent among lesbian, gay and bisexual people.