LGBTQIA+ Services
Thankfully things have come a long way for those of us who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community but for many of us it didn’t always feel this way. We all have our own stories of when we first came to realize that we were different, and how for many of us that sense of otherness was for a time a source of loneliness or shame. We’ve needed extra courage and resilience in order to live our lives. At Maxwell Medical we want to pay tribute to those qualities and be sure that anyone identifying as LGBTQIA+ has equal access to the highest quality care delivered in a safe and respectful way.
We are committed to providing all our usual General Practice services to our LGBTQIA+ patients but also acknowledge our communities have some unique healthcare needs.
Trans and non-binary people
Please tell us your preferred name and pronouns when you register. We promise to do our best to respect your preferences. (Although sometimes we have to know the name that appears on your Medicare card for some paperwork). We’re not perfect. If we slip up please tell us and we will make sure we do better.
We recognize that not everyone wants or needs a physical transition. For those who do, we have a network of experts in the endocrinology and mental health fields, and can facilitate private referrals when needed, in addition to the public hospital services. We work in partnership with our trusted endocrinologist to help with hormone prescribing and health monitoring once dosages are stable.
Some trans-men need cervical screening and some trans-women need prostate checks. We understand this may bring up really difficult feelings which may lead to you avoiding it altogether. Remember, you are a courageous and resilient person. Please talk to us about your needs and we’ll do our best to make sure you are treated with respect and dignity.
Lesbians, gay women, bi- women, same-sex attracted women and women who have sex with women (but don’t like labels)
We all know by now that lesbians need their Cervical Screening Tests but do you know how to practice safe sex and when to have STD checks? Talk to us if you need advice! Increasingly, fertility issues are of concern to same sex couples and we can help with pre-natal health checks and referral options.
Homosexual men, gay men, bi- men, same-sex attracted men and men who have sex with men (but don’t like labels)
Talk to us about your health. Maybe you want to start a family, maybe you’re thinking about going onto PrEP, maybe you’re facing some mental health problems or you would like to have a sexual health check-up in safe inclusive space free of judgement. We can help.