@GdnHealthcare I work with plenty of LGBT staff and it's not the obstacle that this med student thinks it is. Believe me when I say that work is a lot easier if you're white and English.

@GdnHealthcare No woman needs to answer personal questions about marital can be empathetic and approachable without that regardless of sexuality.

@GdnHealthcare If patients ask about your personal life then it would be both right and proper for you to divert because it's frankly none of their business straight or gay, old or young, animal, vegetable or mineral!

@GdnHealthcare Patients have no right to know, it does not affect their treatment. It’s nothing to do with them.

@GdnHealthcare The idea I try to convey to patients is that when at work I am an asexual healthcare professional. Because professionalism encourages that. An attitude which first articulated itself when a patient needing an emergency Caesarean at 4am stated she'd prefer it if only female staff.

@GdnHealthcare I also find some of the responses to this concerning. I expect doctors to be leaders of teams and organisations. To successfully lead there is a need for authenticity. Be true to yourself.

@GdnHealthcare Apologies if my initial response was not very supportive. I have found that for most patients they have much other personal priorities rather than your private life. In all clinicL engagements I expect mutual trust and honesty. That needs to be both ways. I hope this helps.

@GdnHealthcare Sharing our lives to deepen relationships with our patients is second nature in the hetero-world and everyone has the right to be their true self at work. It's simply not enough to say it's none of their business, we allies need to step up (1/2)

@GdnHealthcare I have never, ever been in a situation where I would be discussing my personal life with a patient. We have professional boundaries for a reason. I'm out as gay with colleagues. I'm not discussing my sexual preference with patients. Maybe that's just me? 🤷🏻‍♂️

@GdnHealthcare Out nonbinary femme, recently had a FABULOUS lesbian wedding - you think I’m gonna keep quiet when people notice my ring and ask about my ‘husband’? Nae chance! 👯‍♀️🌈

@GdnHealthcare I have wonderful relationships with my patients and agree it is vital to build honest, transparent relationships. But also it is important to maintain boundaries. My own rule of thumb - share what I feel comfortable with and what feels right

@GdnHealthcare Also, since I started working as a social worker in Tower Hamlets, it includes a hub of people from all backgrounds, cultures, sexual orientations, none of this comes into play we all work together like an extended large family and get on with our jobs! It’s wonderful!

@GdnHealthcare Im amazed that in this day and age that this poor lady is unable to be herself at work . If people she works with make bad comments clearly they need addressing. But reading the article I feel sad she is unable to chat easily in patient/doctor situations.

@GdnHealthcare Agree with others that delivering the highest quality care requires authenticity & being able to bring your whole self to work. Other industries recognise this, but healthcare lags behind.

@GdnHealthcare 1. She’s right; simpler (not better). 2. She’s sharing her personal lived experience, so “well that’s not the case for me!” doesn’t actually help her or others who feel the same. 3. It’s like an introversion/extroversion scale 4 sharing personal info, people are on a spectrum.

@GdnHealthcare I’ve witnessed homophobic jokes (or banter as the surgeon clarified 😓) but rarely had issues with colleagues who know I’m gay. I have frequently been asked by patients about relationships. I calmly tell them I have a bf because that’s how a straight person would react

@GdnHealthcare Have been asked many times by older female patients whether I have a girlfriend or not. Seems part of building rapport with them. Never came out to them and often struggle with responding honestly / whether appropriate to respond at all.

@GdnHealthcare I think you may be pleasantly surprised how little most patients care. What they want is interaction and many of these questions are simply routine gambits to open conversation- the answer is largely irrelevant

@GdnHealthcare Non of their business. Keep smiling x