Clydebank’s hospital has signalled its commitment to LGBT+ equality during Pride month as one of the country’s leading employers.

The NHS Golden Jubilee has flown the rainbow flag for Pride outside the hospital throughout June and has been part of the charity Stonewall’s “workplace equality index” (WEI) for more than a decade.

They were in the list of top 100 employers under the index in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. And they are also a “diversity champion”.

A spokesman for the hospital said they will continue to participate in the index, and Stonewall welcomed the Golden Jubilee’s participation in both programmes.

The spokesman said: “The WEI is a measurement of how an organisation is meeting the needs of LGBT+ staff, along with serving as an effective indication of how progress is being met against general equality targets.

“NHS Golden Jubilee values every patient and member of staff and has a strong track record of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

“In addition to the WEI, the organisation is a past Icon Award winner, is an accredited Investor in Young People, and is a Disability Confident Leader.

“A diverse workforce means that we can offer a wide range of ideas, skills, resources and energies to the life-changing work we carry out on a daily basis.

“We offer inclusive services for patients regardless of their age, sex, race or ethnic origin, faith or religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.”

The WEI is a free assessment tool for employers to measure how well they support LGBT+ workers and customers. The diversity champions scheme is a paid one aiming to improve that support.

The hospital spokesman added: “Most recently NHS Golden Jubilee has launched staff networks focussing on bringing together people with common experiences of the workplace.

“These networks are a way to work in partnership with staff and management in NHS Golden Jubilee towards eliminating discrimination, improving equality of opportunity, fostering a diverse inclusive working and learning environment that encourages a culture of respect and equality for everyone.

“NHS Golden Jubilee has also joined with other Boards in supporting the NHS Scotland Pride Badge and Pride Pledge. These are for staff to show their commitment to support LGBT+ equality and supporting service users and colleagues from all backgrounds.

“LGBT+ and minority ethnic people still face challenges in relation to accessing healthcare, and negative attitudes towards them.

“At NHS Golden Jubilee want to break down these barriers and promote an NHS Scotland that is inclusive for all.”

The award-winning NHS Golden Jubilee includes the national hospital, its research institute and conference hotel.

Emma Kosmin, associate director of workplace client relationships at Stonewall, which uses the LGBTQ+ acronym, said: ‘Workplaces play a vital role in creating an inclusive environment for all of their employees, including their LGBTQ+ staff.

“Our workplace equality index is a free benchmarking tool designed to help organisations reflect on the work they’re doing to further LGBTQ+ inclusion and understand how they can improve.

“The Golden Jubilee National Hospital regularly performs well on the index and we’re excited to continue our work with the hospital – through our diversity champions programme - to help them better support LGBTQ+ staff and service users.

“We are very proud of the work we’re doing with more than 850 organisations to help create inclusive working environments for their lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer staff.”