The Patients Association responds to the announcement of an NHS review into LGBT+ health inequalities

Published 29th July 2025

Responding to the announcement of an NHS review into LGBT+ health inequalities, Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association said,

"For too long, LGBT+ people have faced unacceptable barriers when accessing care, including poor experiences with primary care, limited access to mental health support, and essential services like cancer screening. These inequalities have real and potentially devastating consequences for people’s health and wellbeing. LGBT+ patients also tell us that their experiences contribute to mistrust in the healthcare system, which further entrenches those inequalities. 

"We believe everyone should have equal access to safe, timely, and high-quality care. This review is a long-overdue opportunity to listen to LGBT+ patients and healthcare professionals, identify where the system is falling short, and most importantly partner with this community to make improvements. 

"We’re particularly encouraged to see a focus on gathering evidence across areas including mental health, reproductive health, and prevention services, and we hope this work will lead to concrete, lasting change that addresses the root causes of health inequality. 

"To succeed, this review must put the voices of LGBT+ patients at the heart of change.  We look forward to contributing and seeing the review’s recommendations later this year."

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