Doctors reassure patients facing questions over sexuality that they won’t be judged

DOCTORS last night told patients facing questions over their sexuality: “Tell us if you’re gay — we won’t judge you.”

Patients aged 16 and over will be asked if they are gay, straight or bisexual with their answers put on record under controversial rules coming in from 2019.

But the move, championed by gay rights groups, was called “intrusive” and “political correctness gone bonkers” yesterday.

It led Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, to reassure patients they will not be judged.

She said: “It should always be a patient’s choice to disclose this information.

“Any information they tell their GP is completely confidential and we are trained to have non-judgemental conversations about all issues that might affect their health and wellbeing.”

But critics said the NHS had no place asking the question.

Tim Loughton, a former children and families minister, said: “It’s political correctness and compliance with the Equality Act gone bonkers.”

Dr Peter Swinyard, chairman of the Family Doctor Association, said: “It really is not the place of family doctors to start monitoring people’s sexuality.”

NHS England said it wanted to be compliant with the Equality Act but added: “People do not have to answer the questions and it will have no impact on the care they receive.”