Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust and York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have recently introduced the Rainbow Badge scheme. Despite improving social attitudes in general towards LGBT+ people in the UK, negative attitudes (such as homophobia, biphobia, transphobia) are still widely prevalent. Moreover there are barriers to healthcare services for young LGBT+ people and a recent survey found that 1 in 7 LGBT people avoid seeking healthcare for fear of discrimination from staff. NHS Rainbow badges are a way to show that the organisation is a non-judgmental and an inclusive place for LGBT+ service users and staff. As a simple visible symbol, the badges can make a big difference for those who may be unsure of the reception they will receive if they disclose their sexuality and/or gender identity.

Barnsley Hospital NHS FT library have worked with the Trust’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead to develop a collection of resources in line with the ethos of the Rainbow badge scheme. New books about offering appropriate healthcare services for LGBT+ staff were purchased, following suggestions from the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead and recommendations from the Stonewall website. These books were showcased as part of the roll out of the Rainbow badge scheme and included a display highlighting to staff how they could get their own badge.

York Teaching Hospital Library staff worked with the Secretary of the LGBT+ Staff Network to promote the Rainbow badge scheme. Information about the badge scheme, the Staff Network and the recent Stonewall report were displayed in both York and Scarborough libraries alongside new books for staff about offering appropriate healthcare services. One of the Clinical Librarians visited the Chair to offer library help and support to the network and has since forwarded any items of interest from the grey literature as they are published. A literature search was also conducted during Pride Month 2019. We are now running a monthly alert through Medline based on this search and plan to forward any newly published articles. The emphasis in the search is on identifying practical information to help staff to better understand and engage with service users in the LGBT+ community.

Library staff at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust worked with their Equality and Diversity Lead to help promote the launch of Rainbow Badges there. Again, the library hosted a display and produced a list of resources. HDFT’s sign-up document states “Wearing a badge doesn’t mean you’ll have all the answers but most importantly you should be prepared to listen and signpost to relevant information.” Team members felt very strongly that information signposting is a core part of our role, and were keen to offer support.

Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust and York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have all worked with Equality and Diversity Leads to align library services with the launch of the Rainbow badges. By developing and promoting collections which support clinicians in providing appropriate care to LGBT+ patients, and by raising awareness of the Rainbow Badge, the three Library Services are contributing to creating a culture of inclusivity at their trusts.

Daniel Froste, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Hazel Brownhill, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Helen Weir, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust

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Pictured resources include:
Chang, Sand C; Singh, Anneliese A.; dickey, lore m.
A clinician's guide to gender-affirming care: working with transgender and gender-nonconforming clients.
Oakland, CA: New Harbinger, 2019

Dawson, Juno
This book is gay .
London: Hot Key Books, 2018

Eckstrand, Kristen L.; Ehrenfeld, Jesse M.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender healthcare: a clinical guide to preventative, primary and specialist care.
Cham: Springer, 2016.

Gibson, Sarah; Fernandez, J
Gender diversity and non-binary inclusion in the workplace: the essential guide for employers
London: Jessica Kingsley, 2018

Harvey, Vickie L.; Housel, Teresa Heinz.
Health care disparities and the LGBT population.
Plymouth: Lexington Books, 2014.

Holleb, Morgan Lev Edward
The A-Z of gender and sexuality : from Ace to Ze
London: Jessica Kingsley, 2019

Jacques, Juliet
Trans : a memoir
London: Verso Books, 2016

Vance, Ryan; Richardson, Michael Lee (editors)
We were always here : a queer words anthology.
Edinburgh: 404 Ink, 2019

Vincent, Ben
Transgender health: a practitioner's guide to binary and non-binary trans patient care
London: Jessica Kingsley, 2018

Westwood, Sue; Price, Elizabeth
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans* individuals living with dementia: concepts, practice and rights
London: Routledge, 2018