GPs in mid Essex are set to be offered training to help staff meet the needs of LGBT patients.

The Pride in Practice initiative, which started in Greater Manchester in 2011,is being rolled out to practices within the Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group.

Blackwater Medical Centre in Maldon and Greenwood Surgery in South Woodham Ferrers are among those which will receive free training.

Former GP Shan Newhouse said she thinks the initiative is a great idea.

She said: “As a GP, I was especially concerned that bisexual and lesbian women felt able to come for routine smears.

“I retired five years ago and during my time working it was a very long, slow process for transgender people to get support, so I hope this will improve the process for them.”

The initiative comes after research found that one in seven LGBT people avoid seeking healthcare for fear of discrimination from staff, and almost one in four LGBT people have witnessed discriminatory or negative remarks against LGBT people by healthcare staff.

Anna Davey, GP and chair of Mid Essex CCG, said the group is “delighted” to support the initiative.

She said: “The LGBT Foundation has a fantastic track record for delivering this programme and I am looking forward to seeing the results over the coming months.”

GPs will be given accreditation following the training to help strengthen the relationships between patients and services.

It is designed to give GPs the confidence to support transgender patients beginning their transition, support gay and lesbian people wanting to adopt children, and point patients to other services which can help them.

Claudia Carvell, Pride in Practice business development manager at the LGBT Foundation, said: “We are excited for the opportunity to work with mid Essex CCG and integrate Pride in Practice within their GP practices.

“Mid Essex is uniquely situated to support LGBT people livin