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Resources for finding LGBT Friendly GPs?

  • 11-02-2016 6:48pm
    #1
    hechz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14 ✭


    I've looked around a bit, and found a lot of older threads referencing gaydoctorsireland.ie, which seems to be defunct. While not seeking a specific referral here, as I suspect that may be against the rules. Can the community point me at resources for finding gay-friendly doctors?


Comments

  • #2
    newacc2015
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,379 ✭✭✭newacc2015


    Honestly no Doctor will care if you are LGBT. They are used to deal with bigger fish ie people with substance abuse problems, severe mental health issues, eating disorders. Having an LGBT patient in Dublin is not seen as a problem in the slightest.

    If you want STI testing, the GMHS are ok. Expect a long wait time and a client like something from Zimbabwe. But it is free and the staff dont judge in the slightest.


  • #3
    Links234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,944 ✭✭✭✭Links234


    newacc2015 wrote: »
    Honestly no Doctor will care if you are LGBT.

    It's pretty naive to think that. I had to change GP because of some of the comments my previous one was making, and how flippant he was when I'd see him. Prejudices exist, and I know a few other people who've had issues, even in this day and age.


  • #4
    baby and crumble
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,512 ✭✭✭baby and crumble


    It's probably easier to find a doc who's gay-friendly but not so easy to find one who has an understanding of the specific differences in heath risks for lgb folks.

    Many doctors think that lesbians, for example, don't "really" need a regular smear test if they've never been with men, or only the once or whatever. Lesbians are also more likely to have a higher chance of developing breast cancer than straight women (most likely because breast-feeding reduces the risk of developing the disease in some cases).

    However, if you need to find a trans-friendly doctor, I'd say you'll run in to major problems, because of the ignorance and prejudice that runs rife.


  • #5
    Annasopra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,189 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    newacc2015 wrote: »
    Honestly no Doctor will care if you are LGBT. They are used to deal with bigger fish ie people with substance abuse problems, severe mental health issues, eating disorders. Having an LGBT patient in Dublin is not seen as a problem in the slightest.

    If you want STI testing, the GMHS are ok. Expect a long wait time and a client like something from Zimbabwe. But it is free and the staff dont judge in the slightest.

    I dunno. A huge amount of doctors know very little about trans healthcare so I really wouldnt be so presumptive.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • #6
    newacc2015
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,379 ✭✭✭newacc2015


    Links234 wrote: »
    It's pretty naive to think that. I had to change GP because of some of the comments my previous one was making, and how flippant he was when I'd see him. Prejudices exist, and I know a few other people who've had issues, even in this day and age.

    In my experience Doctors are professional and will rarely say anything negative about your "lifestyle" to your face, unless it is something of concern like drinking or unprotected sex. There is always douchebags in all walks of life. But 99% of Doctors couldnt careless about your sexuality. You are just another €60 and a file on their computer. I know plenty of healthcare workers. After 20 years on the job, they have seen everything and dont really judge.

    Did they say anything to the Doctor? Sometimes people make remarks, that they werent aware were offensive. I have had my Doctor say something which I thought was a snide remark. But it turned out to be a misunderstanding.

    Trans is something that never occurred to me. Like generally a lot of healthcare workers in Dublin would be used to working with trans people. I cant imagine Trans is something Doctors were educated on really. Since the state didnt even allow nurses in colleges to get family planning training in the 1980s. Imagine Doctors would be ignorant rather than intolerant to trans people


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  • #7
    playedalive
    Closed Accounts Posts: 750 ✭✭✭playedalive


    The only thing I could suggest is if you were located in Dublin, maybe pop into the Gay Mens Health Service (edit, this was already mentioned above) if you were looking to get a check up (particularly for STIs). Couldn't recommend enough how professional a public service could be. I was even told of an openly gay doctor near me if I felt I would be more comfortable checking in on LGBT issues that way, so that could be somewhere to start.


  • #8
    Kiwi in IE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,063 ✭✭✭Kiwi in IE


    Actually I'd like to attend an LGBT friendly GP as well, because if they are not LGBT friendly, they are going to be judgemental, narrow minded pr*cks whom I would not want to discuss any intimate issues/reproductive issues/specific women's issues with.


  • #9
    jobbridge4life
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,759 ✭✭✭jobbridge4life


    newacc2015 wrote: »
    In my experience Doctors are professional and will rarely say anything negative about your "lifestyle" to your face, unless it is something of concern like drinking or unprotected sex. There is always douchebags in all walks of life. But 99% of Doctors couldnt careless about your sexuality. You are just another €60 and a file on their computer. I know plenty of healthcare workers. After 20 years on the job, they have seen everything and dont really judge.

    Did they say anything to the Doctor? Sometimes people make remarks, that they werent aware were offensive. I have had my Doctor say something which I thought was a snide remark. But it turned out to be a misunderstanding.

    Trans is something that never occurred to me. Like generally a lot of healthcare workers in Dublin would be used to working with trans people. I cant imagine Trans is something Doctors were educated on really. Since the state didnt even allow nurses in colleges to get family planning training in the 1980s. Imagine Doctors would be ignorant rather than intolerant to trans people

    There is quite a gap between being LGBT friendly and just not being openly hostile. I also think that it’s about getting someone who does ‘give a sh!t’ but in a positive way. My GP is great.


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