Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust comes top in Stonewall’s Healthcare Equality Index

Mar 27 2013
Written by Amy Ashenden

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has been announced as the most LGBT-friendly healthcare organisation in England in Stonewall’s Healthcare Equality Index 2013.

Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust came second and London Ambulance Service NHS Trust came third.

The Healthcare Equality Index is a new tool for health providers to benchmark and track their progress on equality for their lesbian, gay and bisexual patients and communities.

James Taylor, Stonewall’s Senior Health Officer, said: “Every healthcare organisation that secured a place in the Top 10 has performed well.

“Our ground-breaking research consistently demonstrates that many lesbian, gay and bisexual people still face poor health outcomes and experiences when they use the NHS,” he added. “Every organisation that entered this Index is helping to tackle health inequalities and deliver a 21^st century health service accessible to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation.”

Lisa Rodrigues CBE, Chief Executive at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘We’re utterly delighted.” She added: “It’s our honour and duty to provide the best possible treatment and care to the 100,000 people a year we serve.”

32 healthcare organisations entered the Index, which provide services to over 15 million patients across England. They were assessed according to policy and practice, engagement and communication with patients, health promotion and staff training.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust also came top in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers 2012.