NSW Health has launched the State’s first LGBTIQ+ health strategy to ensure a safe, welcoming and inclusive health system in NSW.
Releasing the NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy 2022-2027, NSW Health said the landmark Strategy provided direction to all NSW Health organisations and staff, “so that collectively we can deliver the best care to LGBTIQ+ people and work with them to achieve optimal health and wellbeing”.
The Department said this included the health, wellbeing and safety of health staff who were LGBTIQ+.
It said the strategic priorities for the State’s health system over the next five years were to deliver high quality, safe, inclusive and responsive care; respond to the health needs of transgender and gender diverse people; respond to the health needs of intersex people; and capture data on sexuality, gender and intersex variations at the point-of-care and population level.
“The Strategy’s vision is for LGBTIQ+ people in NSW to receive high quality, safe, inclusive and responsive healthcare that delivers outcomes that matter to them,” NSW Health said.
“The Strategy has been built on the voices, experiences and insights of over 1,600 LGBTIQ+ people across the State and more than 750 NSW Health staff,” it said.
Hosting a launch for the Strategy, NSW Health released its first implementation plan and a summary of evidence which presented insights about the health needs, service access requirements and experiences of LGBTIQ+ people when engaging with healthcare in NSW.
Welcoming the Strategy the Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard said it would come with Australia’s first LGBTIQ+ health centre to opened in Sydney.
“Hundreds of people within the LGBTIQ+ community contributed to this breakthrough health Strategy which aims to address longstanding inequities,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The ACON-run LGBTIQ+ Health Centre will offer people a wide range of services, such as expert sexual and mental health care that is safe, inclusive and specific to community needs,” he said.
NSW Health’s 7-page Strategy can be accessed at this PS News link.
