NHS Dumfries and Galloway is celebrating its status as the first organisation in Scotland to achieve not one but two prestigious LGBT Gold Charter Mark Award thanks to the efforts of the Sexual Health team.
The Sexual Health team received their charter mark from Melinda Dolan, a Trustee for LGBT Youth Scotland, on Monday 16 May; just 18 months after the Public Health team got theirs.
Dr Maggie Gurney, Director of Sexual Health Dumfries and Galloway, said: “We are delighted to have achieved this award which recognises that we are committed to making our services are welcoming and inclusive.
“We will continue to promote the health, wellbeing and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people because it is important that the LGBT community can be confident that Sexual Health Dumfries and Galloway is a place where they will receive the highest quality of NHS care.’’
Kerry Riddell, Partnerships Manager (South) for LGBT Youth Scotland, added: “This is a fantastic achievement. The NHS Sexual Health Dumfries and Galloway team has demonstrated to staff, service users and external stakeholders that they take LGBT equality seriously.
“They have made significant progress in ensuring discrimination will be challenged and diversity will be welcomed. Their work to promote their Charter Journey has been exemplary and we look forward to continued partnership working to promote LGBT equality.”
PICTURE SHOWS: Members of the NHS Dumfries and Galloway Sexual Health Team with Melinda Dolan from LGBT Youth Scotland.
NHS Sexual Health Dumfries and Galloway received recognition of best practice in a range of areas, including training delivery, building links with LGBT partner organisations, work to develop and improve services for men who have sex with men and their ongoing work around transgender inclusion. To find out more about NHS Sexual Health please visit www.sexualhealthdg.co.uk
