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1 of 5 Day 18th of #LGBTHM21 
I’ve just been to @SheffieldHosp for a regular treatment I’m having and am thinking about our experiences of healthcare as #lgbtq+ people. I often feel invisible, missed and not included in my care and that an assumption is made that I’m heterosexual
I’ve just been to @SheffieldHosp for a regular treatment I’m having and am thinking about our experiences of healthcare as #lgbtq+ people. I often feel invisible, missed and not included in my care and that an assumption is made that I’m heterosexual
2 of 5 In my current treatment I am told to do a pregnancy test every time I go. Often this happens 2 or 3 times. I explain every time that I’m in a same sex relationship and not attempting to get pregnant. I ask for this to be recorded on my notes. I’m then asked again next time
3 of 5 I also get asked at my smear appointments what form of contraception I use. Again, there’s an assumption that I’ll need one. The assumption rests on the belief that the whole world is heterosexual. It’s not. I’m not. Having grown up in the era of #section28, invisibility
4 of 5 and the damage it causes is in my bones. These repeated #microaggressions impact on my trust of health care workers. They can trigger feelings of shame. They can result in people like me just not engaging, not having regular smears and being at higher risk.
5 of 5 As a proud #nhs staff member I think we can do better and must if we are to improve health outcomes for our #lgbtq+ patients. https://www.nursingtimes.net/opinion/microaggression-what-it-really-means-05-06-2020/
