Halswell Health is dedicated to being an inclusive and accepting general practice and workplace that embraces, supports and celebrates the diversity of sexual and gender identities. We want our takātapui and LGBTQIA+ patients to feel affirmed and supported when accessing our services.
Sexual and gender identity is a key part of who we are as humans. Some people have always had a firm sense of their identity, and others may take more time to develop their identity. It’s also possible to have aspects of your identity shift as you move through your life.
Some people with diverse gender identities may choose to seek medical care to help affirm their gender (medical transition). Several of our doctors are able to provide gender-affirming medical treatment for adults over 18 and can also discuss options available for rangatahi (youth). There is mental health support available for those who are exploring their gender identity- please discuss this with your doctor if you think it would be helpful for you.
We will ask for information about your presumed sex and your gender identity when you enrol with us. We can also update information such as preferred name or pronouns at any time if what we have listed no longer reflects your identity. You can ask to speak to a member of staff in private or send a portal message to have this changed. We understand the importance of this information and aim to ensure our records are accurate and reflective of your preferences as much as possible.
Medical computer systems aren’t always streamlined and they’re not the best at communicating with each other. It’s possible a previous name or gender might appear on a prescription or lab form, or in the hospital system in the future. We apologise if this happens and we can help you change your details on the nation-wide NHI system if you would like to- your doctor is the best person to speak to about this.
All our toilets are gender-neutral. These toilets are open for anyone to use.
As a practice, we acknowledge that the LGBTQIA+ population may face additional social, economic, and emotional barriers that discourage them from seeking healthcare services. We aim to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment that encourages open and honest communication at every stage of care.
Speaking to your healthcare providers about your sexual identity and sexual behaviours is the first step to ensuring we can help you get the healthcare that you need and deserve. Feeling comfortable and confident about our sexual and gender identity is crucial to good health and wellbeing. If you feel that your identity is not being affirmed and respected- please let us know. We welcome constructive feedback and ideas, as we are committed to getting this right for all our enrolled patients and their whānau.
LGBTQIA+ people have both general health needs and specific needs that relate to their identity (e.g. hormone therapy and gender affirming surgery). Some members of the LGBTQIA+ community may have an increased chance of contracting HIV and may benefit from taking PrEP (medication to reduce the chance of contracting HIV)- please discuss with your doctor if you think this would be helpful for you.
In general, health screening is related to which anatomy/body parts you have, rather than what your identity is:
Some resources are available to explore issues around gender and sexual identity as well as support services.
