A GAY rights campaign group has named the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust as the fourth most inclusive healthcare organisation in England.

The Trust, which runs Darlington Memorial Hospital and the University Hospital of North Durham, has moved up one place since 2014, when it was fifth in the the Healthcare Equality Index.

The index is a tool for health providers to benchmark and track their progress on equality for their lesbian, gay and bisexual patients and communities.

Jillian Wilkins, equality and diversity lead for the County Durham and Darlington Trust said: “ We are delighted to be recognised as a top performing healthcare organisation for the second year running as providing inclusive and accessible healthcare services is really important to break down barriers, reduce health inequalities and improve the health and wellbeing of our local lesbian, gay and bisexual population.

“Key to this achievement has been the dedicated work and commitment of our LGBT staff network group. We hope to not only continue the good practice but to also make sure we build on this work for the future.”

The County Durham and Darlington Trust has moved up one place since 2014, when it was placed 5th in the index.

Thirty nine healthcare organisations took part, including ambulance trusts, independent sector providers and social enterprise organisations.

Organisations were assessed against criteria including patient policy and practice, engagement and communication with gay people, improving the health of gay patients and staff training on gay health needs.

Stonewall’s James Taylor said: “Organisations who have secured top 10 positions should be extremely proud. Lesbian, gay and bisexual people still experience and expect poor health outcomes and treatment when they use the NHS. Every organisation that entered helps tackle health inequalities and deliver a 21st century health service accessible to all.”

The Northumbria Healthcare Trust was also named as the second most LGB-inclusive healthcare organisation in England.

Both North-East trusts are part of the Stonewall Health Champions programme.

Stonewall UK was founded in 1989 by a small group of women and men who had been active in opposing Section 28 of the Local Government Act.

Supporters regarded Section 28 as an offensive piece of legislation which stigmatised lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

The charity now works with organisations all over the UK to ensure the rights and needs of lesbians, gay men and bixsexual people are addressed in the wider community.