Northern Care Alliance hospitals to raise and display the rainbow flag to celebrate LGBT History Month

All of the NCA’s hospitals and community services in Salford, Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and North Manchester, are showing their support for LGBT History Month

The flagpole at Rochdale Infirmary will proudly display a rainbow flag to help raise awareness of LBGT History Month this February, and to show the Northern Care Alliance’s (NCA) support for this important event.

All of the NCA’s hospitals and community services in Salford, Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and North Manchester, are showing their support for LGBT History Month 2019, which has the theme of ‘peace, activism and reconciliation.’

The first hospital to raise the rainbow flag in support of LGBT History Month was The Royal Oldham on 4 February, North Manchester (display board) on 5 February, closely followed by Salford Royal on 6 February, and Rochdale Infirmary on 7 February.

Each flag raising ceremony will be attended by staff including hospital senior management teams.

With North Manchester General not having a flagpole, a bespoke staff designed notice board has been created incorporating a large rainbow flag display that will include resources for patients, visitors and staff, to find out more about LGBT History.

Similarly Fairfield General Hospital in Bury is celebrating with a poster display and stalls providing LGBT information and resources for staff and patients.

Doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, porters, back office and other staff groups will also be given rainbow NHS fobs and lanyards (limited amount) which they will wear with pride to signal their support for the LGBT community.

The NCA has activities organised throughout the month to support LGBT History Month, including coffee mornings, pop-up exhibitions, poster displays and marketing stalls, cake sales, a LGBT film show and music. These events are all open to staff, patients, visitors and the public in February.

Naheed Nazir, Head of Equality and Engagement at The Northern Care Alliance NHS Group said: “Flying the rainbow flag is symbolic of our staff, patients and visitors all coming together to support LGBT History Month.

"Flying the flag shows The Northern Care Alliance NHS Group’s commitment to celebrating and supporting the diverse communities we have within our workforce and patient care. Seeing the flags flying is a great symbol of support and togetherness for everyone, especially the LGBT communities across our group of hospitals and community services.”