RCN members demand action to ensure nurses can better support victims of LGBTQ+ hate crime

Nursing can play a vital role in supporting their LGBTQ+ patients who are victims of hate crimes so need greater access to resource and training, according to members speaking at RCN Congress in Brighton.

Members gave moving accounts about their experiences treating the victims of hate crimes and the ongoing challenges their LGBTQ+ patients and colleagues face. One member spoke about the rampant homophobia and abuse faced by their patient when they were discharged to a care home. Another spoke about how a patient repeatedly refused to be treated by a transitioning colleague. Many speakers called on members to call out unacceptable behaviour from their patients or their own colleagues.

During the discussion, members voted to make the debate a resolution, and passed overwhelmingly a call upon RCN council to take action to ensure nurses can better support the victims of LGBTQ+ hate crime. The resolution took place ahead of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia, which is tomorrow (Wednesday).

The National Hate Crime Statistics for England and Wales 2021 to 2022 were published by the Home Office in October 2022. The statistics show a 35% increase in recorded hate crimes across Wales compared to 2020 to 2021 (Welsh Government 2022e; Home Office 2022a). There were 6,295 recorded hate crimes across the four Welsh Police Force Areas of which:

• 1,329 (21%) were sexual orientation hate crimes
• 247 (4%) were transgender hate crimes

For the year April 2021 to March 2022, police recorded sexual orientation hate crimes in Wales increased by 50% on the previous year (from 884 to 1,329) and hate crimes against transgender people (i.e., transgender hate crimes) rose by 43% (from 173 to 247 incidents) (Home Office 2021a; Home Office 2022a; Home Office 2021b: Appendix Table; Home Office 2022b: Appendix Table).

Currently, nursing students receive safeguarding training, but it tends to be focused on specific patient groups. The RCN wants to see more safeguarding training before and after nurses graduate and for staff in nursing roles, to build their skills, knowledge, and confidence on how to recognise, support, report, and signpost victims of hate crimes.

Aston Nicholls, a sexual health nurse working in Cardiff, said: “Hate crimes amongst the LGBTQIA+ community are stark and rising. These incidents can have physical, emotional, psychological, and financial consequences for the individual and often come with greater detriment compared to other crimes as it can impact someone’s entire identity. Nurses and health care support workers play a vital role in acknowledging the needs of marginalised groups such as the LGBTQIA+ community and you may find yourself caring for a LGBTQIA+ patient who discloses that they have been subject to a hate crime. If this happens and you are unsure what to do, these 3 simple steps can help you effectively support your patient:

1. Provide a listening ear - allow the patient to confide in you and to fully express themselves. Reassure them that they are in a safe space and give them your full attention.

2. Signpost - encourage the person to report the crime to the police and be aware of appropriate signposting (such as the LGBT foundation) for support and further advice.

3. Call it out – call out any instances you hear of hate towards the LGBTQIA+ community in your lives and practice. It will help stamp out future occurrences and challenge people to think before acting.

While the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) proficiency standards for registered nurses (which dictate the standards nurses reach when they are revalidated every three years) do cover discrimination, continuing professional development needs to ensure nursing staff learn this specific area of safeguarding.

The RCN emphasises nursing staff should work collaboratively with other agencies - alongside the police, social workers and other public sector workers.

Ends

Notes to Editors

Hate crime is defined as ‘any criminal offence which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone based on a personal characteristic.

The definition of a hate crime listed is the common definition agreed in 2007 by the police, Crown Prosecution Service, Prison Service (now the National Offender Management Service) and other agencies that make up the criminal justice system.

• From Welsh Government LGBTQ+ Action Plan for Wales, published March 2023