Pride in Practice strengthens and develops our relationship with our LGBT patients in the local community. Endorsed by the Royal College of GP's, Pride in Practice is a support package that enables the practice to effectively and confidently meet the needs of LGBT patients. Peterloo Medical Centre has a commitment to assuring that our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender population are treated fairly, have access to appropriate healthcare services and feel able to discuss health issues with us.

• This practice recognises the right of every patient to have information about them kept secure and private.
• Any information given to any member of staff will remain confidential
• In exceptional circumstances, permission from the patient will be sought before any information is disclosed
• The practice has a confidentiality policy which is adhered to by every member of staff. Patients have a right to the standards of confidentiality maintained by those providing their care and these standards should be made known at their first point of contact.

If you need to speak to someone in private then please tell the reception staff who will arrange this for you. You do not have to say what it is about, we respect your privacy and right to confidentiality.

Domestic Abuse Support

This service is available to all people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans, and anyone falling under the umbrella term of LGBT such as queer, intersex, pansexual, gender non-binary or gender fluid, including those questioning their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

If you are aged 16 and over, and feel like you may be experiencing domestic abuse then this service could help you.

The domestic abuse service offers support to individuals at risk of or living in a domestic abuse situation. This service will provide practical help and advice, and essential support for those who are at risk. In the casework support, which is 1:1 work, areas such as healthy relationships and boundaries, power and control, and general well-being will be covered.

For those who are at risk of homelessness, or who are currently homeless due to domestic abuse, there is an option for practical housing advice which would include 1:1 sessions with a domestic abuse caseworker where you will be offered advice and guidance around benefits, housing options, safety and budgeting to ensure long term security.

To Self Refer into this service please download and complete the Self Referral Form HERE. Alternatively you can confidentially disclose the information to any GP or Nurse at the practice who can refer you into the service and provide you with any support or assistance you may need.

Befriending Service 

The Befriending Service is aimed at those who:

• Live in Greater Manchester
• Aged over 25
• Identify as LGBT

The LGBT Foundation can offer between 4 and 8 sessions with a volunteer Befriender, who can support you and guide you through difficult times.
Download a self-referral form HERE or alternatively ask your GP to refer you.

HIV, PrEP and COVID-19 Vaccines

There have been various enquires to LGBT Foundation recently around the question of COVID-19 vaccines and if there could be any possible interaction with HIV medications. To provide clarity on this matter, The British HIV Association and Terrence Higgins Trust have produced guidance about COVI-19 vaccines for people living with HIV. The guidance states that there is no scientific reason to suggest that the vaccination could interact in any way with HIV medication. So for anyone living with HIV it is encouraged that they should get a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as it is made available to them. Terrence Higgins Trust

The GM screening and Immunisation Team have provided the following advice regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) the drug taken by HIV negative people before and after sex that reduces the risk of acquiring HIV. Patients prescribed PrEP are not classed as immune supressed so will fall into line with the appropriate age categories as outlines by The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation rather than fall into the underlying conditions cohort for COVID vaccination