It’s #NationalComingOutDay https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">, and two years since we launched pilot of @RainbowNHSBadge @EvelinaLondon

The https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️‍🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge"> badge has always been intended to show support to LGBT+ patients and families using NHS services, to indicate that there is someone to listen, and offer support if needed

In the last two years we’ve heard so many stories from people wearing the badge about how it has helped to start conversations (some of them with people coming out to someone for the first time) that otherwise might not have happened

LGBT+ people often come out not once, but many times, to different people, in different situations; it can feel scary, every time

If you know in advance the person you’re coming out to will understand and support you, it can make a huge difference; which is what https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️‍🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">badge is about

The project has grown rapidly!

@NEAmbulance today become the 152nd Trust in @NHSEngland to launch the project! (I https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💕" title="Zwei Herzen" aria-label="Emoji: Zwei Herzen"> the https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️‍🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge"> patch!)

That means 68% of Trusts in England have done so (another 7% are planning to) https://twitter.com/neasproud/status/1315180985944809472">https://twitter.com/neasproud...

The project is not perfect, and we’ve learnt lots along the way

As we’ve always said, https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️‍🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">badge can only ever be a small part of much needed solutions to address major issues present in NHS in relation to care for LGBT+ people, especially trans people https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2019/02/04/michael-farquhar-nhs-staff-are-in-a-perfect-position-to-be-advocates-for-lgbt-people-when-they-most-need-it/">https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2019/...

2020 has brought new challenges (understatement!), not least blurring of use of https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌈" title="Regenbogen" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen">andhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️‍🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge"> in relation to NHS

Emphasising why https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️‍🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge"> is so important to LGBT+ people has never been more important

When people see our badge they have to be confident what it means https://www.bustle.com/p/lgbtq-nhs-workers-patients-share-their-thoughts-on-the-thank-you-nhs-rainbow-27631141">https://www.bustle.com/p/lgbtq-n...

I would love it if @MattHancock chose #NationalComingOutday https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> to officially pledge to https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️‍🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">badge, to re-emphasise that he wears it not as a generic symbol of support for NHS, but as part of a project 2+ years old aiming to help improve experience of LGBT+ people accessing NHS care https://twitter.com/rainbownhsbadge/status/1300363176043851776">https://twitter.com/rainbownh...

As always you can read about the history of the project here: https://twitter.com/i/events/1269199053885186055?s=21">https://twitter.com/i/events/...

We hope to be able to share with you very soon now plans for next phase of the project (COVID delayed!) and how we will continue to build and develop it

As my time so directly involved with the project starts to come to an end, I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💕" title="Zwei Herzen" aria-label="Emoji: Zwei Herzen">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️‍🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">