This report explores the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people accessing healthcare services in Norfolk, with a focus on identifying barriers, inequalities and areas for improvement.
LGBTQIA+ people are known to experience poorer health outcomes and less positive health care experiences compared to the general population. Given that this group is underrepresented in general engagement activity, Healthwatch Norfolk identified a need for targeted engagement to better understand local experiences and to ensure these voices are heard.
We attended Norwich Pride and King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Pride in the summer of 2025 and carried out social media engagement to gather responses to a survey which focused on assumptions, pronoun use, screening, contraception and mental health.
Our findings show that there continue to be persistent inequalities in healthcare experiences for LGBTQIA+ people in Norfolk. While some challenges reflect broader pressures on healthcare services, assumptions that everyone is heterosexual, inconsistent use of recorded information and variable staff understanding continue to shape experiences of care.
Based on our findings we have made a series of recommendations, including:
• IT systems that contain GP patient records should be improved, so that sex and gender are both recorded separately and that patients are able to change the gender marker in their record without an entirely new record having to be created.
• All local clinical staff to be given training on both overall LGBTQIA+ awareness and relevant training for LGBTQIA+ specific healthcare, such as relevant contraception.
• Local GP surgeries, and other healthcare settings, should focus on accurately recording patients’ preferred pronouns and ensure these are used in all conversations.
Healthwatch Norfolk aims to review this work in 2027, allowing time for positive change to take place.
