Warts 'n' All?

[Arthur Little]

... not necessarily, the thread title being just my "little" !

Concern, however, has been raised about proposals for new patients [over sixteen years of age] at many doctors' surgeries in England being quizzed about their sexual orientation; in other words ... ? or ?

Obviously ... ... the question's much less likely to crop up whenever "established" patients have already been registered with a GP's surgery for some considerable time, except, of course, in cases where there's an actual need for the referral of any patient(s) to a Sexual Health Clinic - as opposed to one say, that perhaps specialises in something as relatively straightforward as the removal of [non~genital!] warts.


www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41625402 ...

[Doc Alan]

The guidance for NHS patients in England to be asked by health professionals about their sexual orientation doesn’t include " monitoring gender or gender identity, such as transgender ". It’s also claimed by a " spokeswoman " for NHS England to " have no impact on the care ( people ) receive ".


We already know LGB ( lesbian, gay and bisexual ) people may have a " range of health inequalities " such as poor mental health, higher risk of self-harm and suicide, increased prevalence of sexually transmitted infections, and increased use of alcohol, drugs and tobacco.



Many health care professionals are unhappy about asking and many people say they would refuse to give such information - so the data obtained would be incomplete in any case.



Doctors and other healthcare professionals try to make patients better, using treatment shown by good evidence to be effective, without prejudice. We are taught as medical students to take a good clinical history ( listening carefully to each patient ) and make a thorough examination ( if necessary with a chaperone ).



In all cases the consultation between health care professional and patient is confidential. In the vast majority, the diagnosis reached and care given should not be affected by sexual orientation of the patient.

[Arthur Little]

The guidance for NHS patients in England to be asked by health professionals about their sexual orientation doesn’t include " monitoring gender or gender identity, such as transgender ". It’s also claimed by a " spokeswoman " for NHS England to " have no impact on the care ( people ) receive ".


We already know LGB ( lesbian, gay and bisexual ) people may have a " range of health inequalities " such as poor mental health, higher risk of self-harm and suicide, increased prevalence of sexually transmitted infections, and increased use of alcohol, drugs and tobacco ".



Many health care professionals are unhappy about asking and many people say they would refuse to give such information - so the data obtained would be incomplete in any case.



Doctors and other healthcare professionals try to make patients better, using treatment shown by good evidence to be effective, without prejudice. We are taught as medical students to take a good clinical history ( listening carefully to each patient ) and make a thorough examination ( if necessary with a chaperone ).



In all cases the consultation between health care professional and patient is confidential. In the vast majority, the diagnosis reached and care given should not be affected by sexual orientation of the patient.

Once again, Alan ... we're indebted to you for yet ANOTHER helpful and informative appraisal of a move that - rather than being misconstrued as an intrusion of privacy by any of our recently-settled members, for example - will reassure them of the best possible treatment and, hopefully, allay their concerns.