Harrogate District Hospital has unveiled rainbow crossings to welcome LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and staff.
The hospital has painted three crossings so far and plans to add a further two crossings.
It hopes the crossings “act as a visual symbol of inclusion” and “enhances the work we’ve been doing” to better support LGBTQ+ people.
During the last year Harrogate hospital has launched three staff networks for LGBTQ+, BAME and disabled staff.
We’re delighted with our freshly painted rainbow Pride crossings (the first three of five) at Harrogate District Hospital.
They send a message that the hospital – and the Trust as a whole – is an open, inclusive and non-judgemental place for LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and staff. pic.twitter.com/z69vEUTmQo— Harrogate NHS FT (@HarrogateNHSFT) October 11, 2020
Stonewall, which campaigns for LGBTQ+ rights, found that LGBTQ+ people face widespread discrimination in healthcare settings.
Some NHS trusts and national NHS bodies have made it onto Stonewall’s top 100 employers over the past decade.
Harrogate and District NHS Trust hope its launch of rainbow badges and the appointment of its first equality and diversity lead will help it make it on the list.
A Care Quality Commission inspection in 2019, which rated HDFT as good overall, found a lack of diversity at senior level and said senior leaders “were aware that they need to undertake more work”.
A spokesperson for HDFT said:
“We’re delighted with our freshly painted rainbow Pride crossings at Harrogate District Hospital. They send a message that the hospital – and the trust as a whole – is an open, inclusive and non-judgemental place for LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and staff.”
