Pride Month: it’s a wrap | Our news

It’s been a busy Pride Month for our LGBTQ+ network and before the month comes to an end, we’d like to share some highlights from the exciting activities that our network got up across all sites.
 

To kick off the month, our LGBTQ+ network team at The Royal London and Mile End Hospitals took part in the hospitals’ Open Day hosting an interactive stall where Jess and Jonathan (site co-leads – photo below) talked to staff and members of the public about the work the network does and how they can take part as a member or ally.

Desert Island Books

This month Barts Health Knowledge and Library Services launched a special Pride edition of their ‘Desert Island Books’ where a member of the LGBTQ+ network was featured every week.

These are some of our members reading choices, but make sure you keep an eye out this week for the fourth and final instalment.

• Professor Charles Knight OBE
• Ray Singh
• Jonathan Livingstone

Signing the NHS rainbow pledge

Last week Whipps Cross Hospital took over the baton for Pride celebrations as they hosted an interactive and colourful stand at the hospital’s canteen. Staff popped in to talked to Megan (site co-lead – photo below) to find out more about our network and enjoyed a treat or two.

The hospital’s canteen served their special Pride-themed menu including the rainbow salad and cake and we also treated our staff to a ‘proud’ silent disco in the wellbeing hub.

Our hospital executive board also signed the NHS rainbow pledge to show their support to LGBTQ+ staff and allies working at the hospital.  

“I particularly look forward to being able to build on the excellent foundations…”

Our LGBTQ+ team at Newham has recently appointed Jonathan Davis as their new co-lead for their site network – welcome to the team Jonathan!

He said:

“I am delighted to be able to support the LGBTQI+ network by becoming the co-chair with Piotr for Newham hospital. As a gay man, I have had the opportunity in my career to support all staff to be fully present and engaged in their work at Newham Hospital and I particularly look forward to being able to build on the excellent foundations put in place by the network to date.”

Being your authentic self

Earlier this week, St Bartholomew’s Hospital held an in-person LGBTQ+ Breakfast Schwarts round.

During the session, staff members from the LGBTQ+ and Allies network shared some of their stories with the group, allowing the opportunity for reflections from everyone. The themed of the session was around being your authentic self in the workplace at Barts Health.

Ray Singh attended the session and he said:

“I was on the panel and talked about where I fit within the trust on ‘Bringing My Authentic Self to Work’.

It was a very rich morning of reflection from the crowd, and I was inspired at how others related and resonated with my story.

A safe space to be heard, to listen, to laugh, to be emotional, to paint your own colours…without judgement.”

Last but not least…

• Check out our latest Tik Tok featuring our Pride flags from each site

 

Coming up

• Our LGBTQ+ network at Newham Hospital will be hosting an interactive stall during the hospital’s Open Day so make sure you pop in and say hello
• We recently applied to become a pilot site in the next wave of the NHS Rainbow Badge Award scheme. Keep an eye out for more on this over the next few weeks.

 

Read more:

• LGBTQ+: our network priorities for staff and patients

• LGBTQ+ history month: what have we achieved?