What is ACCESSCare?

Click here to learn about the ACCESSCare projects through our short animation.

ACCESSCare is a group of research and impact projects. It explores the support needs of LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans +) people facing serious illness, advanced illness and bereavement, and those close to them.

When did ACCESSCare start?

We began this work in 2010. Even though there are laws in many countries to protect LGBT+ people from discrimination in health and social care, our research demonstrates that LGBT+ people facing serious or advanced illness or bereavement may not receive the person-centred care they need from professionals (Harding et al., 2012; Rosa et al., 2022). Our evidence shows that fear and discrimination from health and social care settings persists and must be addressed. 

ACCESSCare seeks to respond to these problems, in order to improve care for LGBT+ people, and the support provided for those close to them.

In addition to the research projects below, we Co-Chair the European Association for Palliative Care Task Force on LGBT+ Inclusive Palliative Care. As part of this work, and in collaboration with task force members from 15 countries, recommendations for Providing LGBT+ Inclusive Palliative & End-of-Life Care (English language version) were developed. Since then, members have been translating and adapting the recommendations for local use. You can see all versions, and our latest work, by visiting the homepage for the EAPC Task Force on LGBT+ Inclusive Palliative Care.

How does ACCESSCare work?

The ACCESSCare team works closely with members of the public who are LGBT+, and have experienced health and social care services during serious illness and bereavement. The ACCESSCare involvement of patients and the public is vital to our projects.

Here a few of our collaborators describe why ACCESSCare is important to them:

"ACCESSCare is for the betterment of LGBT+ people, for their benefit at times in their lives when they are particularly vulnerable." – Paul Clift, gay man

“The projects are really inclusive. I feel respected and valued and that my voice matters.” – Liz Day, lesbian, cis woman

"Greater knowledge of what constitutes quality care, as opposed to just dealing with clinical needs, has to be researched and evaluated in detail for all diversity groups.” - Ruth Rose, trans woman

“Taking part in ACCESSCare’s projects has helped me to feel heard as a patient and feel like my experience matters.” – Stewart O’Callaghan, queer cancer patient

“We need to ensure that we train our healthcare professionals to recognise that LGBT+ people come from all walks of life – from different cultures, religions, backgrounds. They need to have that awareness that anyone could identify as LGBT+.” – Hareeb Khan, gay Muslim man

ACCESSCare resources

Guides

• For LGBT people facing advanced illness about palliative & end-of-life care, developed from the ACCESSCare-A interviews.
• For health and social care professionals: 'ABC of LGBT+ Inclusive Communication', developed from the ACCESSCare-C interviews.

Posters 

To support health and social care professionals, organisations and educators in delivering improved care for LGBT+ people.

• Poster- 10 recommendations to improve care for LGBT people with advanced illness, developed from the ACCESSCare-A study.
• Poster- 5 recommendations for inclusive care of LGBT+ people facing bereavement, derived from the ACCESSCare-B study.
• Poster- 10 recommendations for LGBT+ inclusiveness in health and social care communication, drawing on the findings of the ACCESSCare-C study.
• Set of 10 illustrated posters to support LGBT+ inclusive communication, drawing on the findings of the ACCESSCare-C study. These posters were funded by the King’s College London Cultural Advocate fund.

Slide decks

To support health and social care professionals, organisations and educators in incorporating the evidence-based recommendations into training and education.

• Slide deck- 10 ACCESSCare-A recommendations, designed to support improved care delivery for LGBT people living with advanced illness.
• Slide deck- 5 ACCESSCare-B recommendations, designed to support inclusive care of LGBT+ people facing bereavement.
• Slide deck- 10 ACCESSCare-C recommendations, designed to support delivery of LGBT+ inclusive care in routine practice.