GPPS

About the project

When compared to other protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, there is a lack of data on sexual orientation as a determinant of health, which may stem from ongoing discrimination and stigma against these marginalised groups. Disparities have been shown to exist in a wide range of social conditions, including health and healthcare experiences. The General Practice Patient Survey (GPPS) is a national cross-sectional survey that proportionally samples approximately 1% of the adult English population annually. It contains anonymous data on sexual orientation in accordance with the information standard, and information on health outcomes, perceived health and healthcare experiences.

We have used these data to report on sexual orientation trends over time, demonstrating a year on year decline in the proportions of people identifying as heterosexual, whilst also reporting the worse health outcomes among people identifying as bisexual. This work is part of broader research on hetero- and cis-normative healthcare environments and impact on health.