Swadlincote Surgery says it is committed to providing an environment where all patients are treated equally regardless of their sexuality and gender identity.

The surgery has made the guarantee at the start of what is LGBT History Month - a month which is a celebration of the contribution those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender make to society.

A Facebook post from Swadlincote Surgery reads: "As a Surgery, we endeavour to provide an environment where all our patients are treated with professionalism, care, empathy and respect regardless of their sexuality and/or gender identity.

"Alongside taking a lead on LGBT Health matters at Swadlincote Surgery, Dr James Betteridge-Sorby, is a member of the LGBT Steering Group at the Royal College of General Practitioners.

"This Group aims to improve the experience of LGBT Patients in Primary Care by:

• Identifying health inequalities and exploring how these could be improved.

• Creating an inclusive primary care environment by exploring changes that can be made both in the GP surgery and during the GP-patient consultation to have a positive impact on patient outcomes.

• Recognising needs around mental health and suicide prevention such as highlighting health, wellbeing and service provision issues affecting patients and looking at how they can be addressed.

• Exploring cancer screening issues in the LGBT community.

• Meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of LGBT patients, including advice for LGB women who wish to conceive, supporting the adoption process for LGBT couples and the use of pre- and post- exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV."