Secamb Hosts First National Ambulance LGBT Network Conference

Press Release 05 July 2016

SECAmb hosts first National Ambulance LGBT Network Conference

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) will be hosting the first UK National Ambulance LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender) Network conference at the Amex Stadium, Brighton on Friday, 5 August. All NHS ambulance staff are invited to attend the conference free of charge.

SECAmb have secured established key note speakers for the conference and key themes are linked to LGBT Health Issues. Dr Katherine Johnson BSc (Hons) Phd, Assistant Head of Psychology and Psychotherapy at Brighton University will speak on LGBT mental health issues and Caroline Paige, who transitioned after fifteen months of serving in the Royal Air Force, will be speaking on her personal experiences of going through the transitioning process within the workplace.

SECAmb Inclusion Manager Angela Rayner, who is one of the conference’s organisers, said: “We’re running three specialist workshops - Mental Health and LGBT people, Supporting trans patients and staff, and domestic violence in LGBT relationships. The workshops will be repeated throughout the day so that participants will be able to select and attend their preferred options.”

The conference precedes the yearly Pride Brighton & Hove Festival on Saturday, 6 August, which is widely recognised as the most popular and flamboyant in Pride’s calendar.

Staff from the Trust’s Sussex, Surrey and Kent regions will once again represent SECAmb at the event and will be joined by fellow ambulance service colleagues from across the country. It is expected that the Trust will have more than 100 participants in the parade and it is hoped that the conference will boost numbers to a record level this year.

Geraint Davies, Acting Chief Executive and Chair of PRIDE in SECAmb said: “SECAmb is absolutely delighted to host the first National Ambulance LGBT Network conference which shows SECAmb’s commitment to deliver diversity and equality for our patients and our staff.

“Year after year our strong presence at Pride 2016 never fails to receive tremendous cheers and support by the crowds lining the streets. It makes me extremely proud to be part of SECAmb.”

Ends

Note to editors:

Ì South East Coast Ambulance Service was formed on 1 July 2006, following the merger of Kent, Surrey and Sussex ambulance trusts and is one of 11 ambulance services operating in England. It covers an area of 3,600 square miles and a resident population of 4.5 million across East and West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, Kent and Medway and Surrey. The trust responds to 999 calls from the public, immediate and urgent calls from health professionals, as well as providing non-emergency Patient Transport Services (pre-booked patient journeys to and from healthcare facilities) in some areas. It employs more than 3,000 staff across 60 sites, more than half of whom are paramedics and ambulance technicians.

Ì SECAmb is a NHS Foundation Trust and as such invites the public to have a say in how we run our services. It’s free to become a member of SECAmb, and members will receive a newsletter with potentially life-saving health tips, invitations to ambulance service events, and information about any changes we’re planning to our services. To become a member fill in our online form: www.nhs-membership.co.uk/seas or, to be sent a form to fill in, leave your name and address on our membership phone line: 01273 897840.

For further details contact:

Ì Rich Airey, Media Relations Officer, on 01737 363888 or 07500 991807 or email

Ì On-call press officer for urgent media enquiries 01622 740358, option 4

Or visit www.secamb.nhs.uk