New rainbow Pride crossings unveiled at Harrogate District Hospital

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The paintings send a message that the Trust is an open, inclusive and non-judgemental place for LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and staff.

The colourful crossings follow on from several long-planned NHS initiatives introduced to promote inclusion, such as the Rainbow Badge scheme.

A spokesperson from the Harrogate and District Trust said: “The rainbow Pride pedestrian crossings act as a visual symbol of inclusion and enhances the work we have been doing to better support our LGBTQ+ staff and patients.”

According to the charity Stonewall, national research shows LGBTQ+ people are subject to widespread discrimination in healthcare settings.

Alarmingly, one in seven LGBTQ+ people avoid seeking healthcare for fear of judgement from staff.

NHS Harrogate has aimed to tackle this trend by appointing an Equality and Diversity Lead, as well as establishing an LGBTQ+ staff network over the past year.

These initiatives have worked towards increasing awareness of the issues these groups of people face and improving patients’ healthcare experiences.

The Pride crossings proved a hit on social media, receiving hundreds of likes and comments across Facebook and Twitter.

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One user, Carmel Bridson, shared her support for the project. “Brilliant initiative. They will brighten up some very dull autumnal days too! They look amazing,” she said.