Senior citizens from a west Cumbrian town have been asked about their sexual orientation in a questionnaire carried out by the local county Council.
As part of a trial investigation by the adult social services department in Egremont, the purpose behind is to monitor any kind of discriminatory practice when elderly people access social care services.
A county council spokesperson told the online newspaper Newsandstar that there was a need for the council “to develop work already undertaken to promote awareness and accessibility of services to people who are lesbian, gay and bisexual” and claimed that data gathered will enable staff “to identify any quality gaps” in order to address any issue or trend.
However those who disagree with the disclosure of their sexual orientation in a database claimed that it will make little difference as people would still be reluctant to reveal it. “The reality of this is that people who are happy with their sexuality will answer, and people who are not will answer ‘straight’. Services are services and they must be open to all who fit the criteria”, explained one reader in a debate opened at newsandstar.co.uk.
Until recently, sexual orientation was a private issue, but from now on and according to an inspection report by the Care Quality Commission, adult social services of Cumbria council will soon include this question alongside the demographic information such as age, nationality and race, according to
It is difficult to estimate the number of gay, lesbian and bisexual people in Cumbria. However, some staff from county’s libraries calculate that is between 20,000 and 25,000 people, after collecting statistical figures since 2007.