NHS announces series of talks to mark LGBT History Month

The experiences of LGBT patients and staff, the story of HIV in the UK, and an overview of LGBT characters in myth and legend are among topics to be covered during a series of talks planned to mark LGBT History Month during February.

For the first time, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board has scheduled a series of thought-provoking, inspiring and informative discussions to celebrate the contribution of LGBT people to the NHS and the wider community.

The first LGBT History Month was held in the United States in 1994 but it has been marked in the UK each February since 2005, making this year the 20th anniversary of the first UK event.

Simon Hardcastle-Waugh, deputy chief nurse at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, said:

“I’m delighted to be part of the speakers’ programme for LGBT History Month, talking about my career and some of the challenges and prejudices I have overcome.  It’s very important to me that we recognise the contribution of LGBT people to health and social care, where we are over-represented compared with the population as a whole.”

Felicity Cox, chief executive officer of Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, said:

“This is the first time we will have marked LGBT History Month in our organisation, and I’m very interested to see the range of subjects we’ll be addressing in the programme.  I look forward to welcoming all NHS staff and our partners in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors to the sessions, and I am sure I am not the only person who will learn a lot.

“I hope to be able to join some of the sessions as we have been able to attract some high-profile speakers to lead meaningful and instructive discussions, and I am very keen to recognise the contributions of LGBT people and to promote inclusive workplace cultures in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.

All sessions will be held at lunchtimes, allowing both front-line and back-office staff to join in remotely:

Friday 7 February, 12:00 noon to 1:00pm
Pride in Practice: the LGBT health experiences survey
(Andrew Gilliver, Pride in Practice co-ordinator, LGBT Foundation)

Tuesday 11 February, 12:00 noon to 1:00pm
HIV and the British LGBT community 1982-2025: what changed
(Richard Angell OBE, chief executive, Terrence Higgins Trust)

Thursday 20 February, 12:00 noon to 1:00pm
This is me: my journey into healthcare
(Simon Hardcastle-Waugh, deputy chief nurse, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board)

Wednesday 26 February, 12:00 noon to 1:00pm
Bad blood: LGBT figures in myth and legend
(Sacha Coward, historian and author of “Queer as Folklore”)

NHS staff and those working in charities and voluntary-led organisations can use Eventbrite to find out more and register their attendance at any of the events.