While LGBTIQ+ people have poorer health outcomes than the broader community, current data collection does not adequately include LGBTIQ+ demographics. This means LGBTIQ+ populations are routinely excluded or not adequately considered in policy and program development.
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is consulting on a revised framework for clinical quality registries—organisations that monitor the quality (appropriateness and effectiveness) of health care within specific clinical areas. The registries collect, analyse and report health-related information as part of continuous improvement in the health system.
Information on the consultation is available at https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/health-and-human-research/national-arrangements-clinical-quality-registries.
LHA has asked that the updated framework recognises, supports and encourages adoption of the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2020 Standard on Sex, Gender, Variations in Sex Characteristics, and Sexual Orientation Variables (2020 Standard).
LHA has recommended that the framework recognise LGBTIQ+ populations as a priority consumer group to help drive appropriate population data collection to improve LGBTIQ+ health care.