Clinical podcast: How can pharmacy teams offer the best support to their transgender patients?

Mr Ofori-Atta’s guest on this month’s podcast is Fred Pearce, the co-founder of the LGBTQ+ Society of Herne bay in Kent. He is an activist for LGBTQ+ rights and also works as a counter assistant in a community pharmacy. Among other issues, Mr Pearce explains the negative effect that misgendering a patient by continuously referring to them as a gender their identity does not align with can have on their mental health and their sense of identity. It is important for pharmacy staff to ensure they arm themselves with as much information as they can in order to provide the best possible care, Mr Pearce says. But his main take away is to always ask patients about their pronouns or other preferences when you are in doubt. Useful information to signpost patients to can be found via organisations such as Stonewall and Transunite. [insert podcast] Listen to the podcast in full to find out more about: • The impact of misgendering on trans patients • The need for education of healthcare professional on trans issues • The role community pharmacy can play in helping trans patients • How pharmacists can help inform and advise the LGBTQ+ community