Doctors have welcomed a 10-year action plan to improve the health and wellbeing of the LGBTIQA+ community, including boosting training for healthcare practitioners.
The National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People outlines key areas of focus to deliver better mental and physical health outcomes across the community.
These include strengthening preventive health and building health literacy; enhancing accessibility, availability and safety of health care services; and ensuring workforce capability and capacity across both mainstream and LGBTIQA+ led services.
To support the plan the Federal Government has committed $15.5 million to system-wide improvements to ensure people can access safe, appropriate and stigma-free health and wellbeing care.
RACGP president Dr Michael Wright said there are significant health disparities for the LGBTIQA+ community.
“Right now, LGBTIQA+ people are twice as likely to experience poor health – this is not acceptable,” he said.
“For the action plan to be truly transformative the government, GPs and other health professionals need to work in partnership with LGBTIQA+ people to make sure the healthcare they’re receiving meets the diverse needs of every individual.
“GPs also have a key role to play in providing safe, respectful and inclusive care. We know the importance of all patients having a GP they trust, and who knows their medical history.
“We know how much LGBTIQA+ patients value the trusted relationship they have with their GP, and that GPs and practices around the country are dedicated to caring for these people.”
The action plan highlights a “clear need to upskill the health workforce and increase capacity” to meet the health and wellbeing needs of the community.
“Health professionals across the country should be equipped to provide high-quality care to LGBTIQA+ people from the time they undertake their initial training, through to ongoing continuing professional development opportunities,” the plan states.
Part of that will including promoting specific LGBTIQA+ health care needs in workforce planning; consideration of pathways to specialise in areas of LGBTIQA+ health where there is a current lack of clinicians; and working with health-sector partners to enhance education, training and development materials.
Medical colleges and other health bodies will be expected to work alongside LGBTIQA+ community representatives to ensure education and training reflect the diverse needs of the community.
Dr Wright said the college was prepared to work with the Government to ensure the plan is implemented.
“In particular, the College can provide guidance on the development of multidisciplinary LGBTIQA+ health services in communities of need. We can also advise on incorporating informed consent approaches to care for trans and gender diverse people and getting clarity on access to gender-affirming care,” he said.
Public Health Association of Australia chief executive Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin said the action plan was a welcome step to improving health outcomes for the community.
“We know that discrimination, stigma, and harassment, both within and outside the health care system, lead to poorer health outcomes for LGBTIQA+ people compared to the wider community,” he said.