THE Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has called for action to ensure that nursing staff are better equipped to handle LGBTQ+ hate crime victims who may enter their care.
The biggest union and professional organisation for nurses in the UK, the RCN, presented a discussion on the role of nursing in helping members of the LGBTQ+ community who are victims of hate crime on May 16, during the RCN Congress in Brighton.
Members decided to turn the discussion into a resolution after hearing heartbreaking stories of discrimination encountered by both patients and staff, including homophobic abuse suffered by a patient transferred to a nursing home and a patient who refused to receive treatment from a trans nurse.
By a wide margin, they approved it and made a formal request to the RCN council to act to enable nurses to adequately help LGBTQ+ victims under their care.
RCN diversity and equalities co-ordinator Bruno Daniel told PinkNews: “The increase in LGBTQ+ hate crimes are deeply alarming but sadly so is the reality faced by the UK’s LGBTQ+ community.
“The victims of homophobic or transphobic hate crimes are loved ones, colleagues, families, friends, and neighbours who may disclose their lived experiences to members of the nursing team when they are seeking care and treatment.
“Nursing staff play a vital role to treat those victims with compassion, ensure they can access vital specialist services and support, and support them to achieve justice.
“Nursing teams must have the skills and knowledge they need to provide the very best care and support.”
The amount of hate crimes recorded to police in England and Wales has significantly grown during the past ten years.
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