Pride Month 2025: Celebrating Diversity and Strength in Prehospital Care
As June unfolds in hues of rainbow flags worldwide, Pride Month gives us the chance to celebrate our LGBTQIA2S+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Inter‑sex, Asexual, Two-Spirit) community. At Eripio Health Ltd , our E.R.I.P.I.O. values—Excellence, Respect, Integrity, Partnership, Innovation, Outcomes—are not just aspirational; they underpin our commitment to inclusive, compassionate, and high-quality prehospital care for all, especially those from historically marginalised groups.
The Need for LGBTQIA2S+ Inclusive Prehospital Care
Evidence shows LGBTQIA2S+ individuals often face disparities across healthcare settings. It is known that LGBTQIA2S+ people experience disproportionately poorer care and health outcomes, including higher cardiovascular risks. Trauma-informed reports highlight that LGBTQIA2S+ adults are twice as likely to report negative experiences in healthcare services. In urgent situations, biases (or lack of training) among EMS providers can mean the difference between timely, effective care and critical errors. Fighting discrimination isn’t just ethical - it’s lifesaving.
Building a Culture of Excellence and Respect
At Eripio Health, Excellence means delivering the best clinical and operational performance. Respect means compassion, dignity, and inclusion—recognising the individual behind every patient. In prehospital settings, this translates to:
Asking and using the patient's correct name and pronouns
Providing gender- and culturally-appropriate interventions
Avoiding assumptions, and treating all with the same professionalism
Integrity and Partnership in Diverse Communities
Integrity drives us to be transparent, accountable, and honest, even under pressure. When working with LGBTQIA2S+ patients, that means acknowledging our limitations, avoiding harmful biases, and always striving to do better. Prehospital care is fast-moving and intense; integrity ensures we never let shortcuts undermine patient dignity. Partnership is at the heart of effective care. Eripio Health works with hospitals, ambulance services, universities, and specialist organisations; all upholding the same high inclusivity values.
Embracing Innovation to Improve Outcomes
Innovative training and technology can elevate patient care. At Eripio Health, we believe in innovation and blue-sky thinking that advances safety and efficiency.
Some examples include:
Digital prompts in clinical checklists reminding staff to verify pronouns and gender identity
VR simulations that immerse responders in realistic LGBTQI2S patient scenarios
Why We Celebrate Pride at Eripio Health
Pride is more than a rainbow flag - it signals belonging. By celebrating Pride Month, Eripio Health does two things:
Honours LGBTQIA2S+ people - our crew, collaborators, patients; and the historical struggle for visibility and rights.
Reinforces our mission: inclusive care is not optional; it’s mission-critical. Publicly embracing Pride shows that every person, regardless of identity, is welcome and safe in our care.
Practical Measures We Take (and Encourage Others to Take)
To embody Pride principles in our daily operations, Eripio Health has:
Implemented mandatory LGBTQIA2S+ cultural competence training for all staff
Updated SOPs to include name and pronoun recognition
Offer staff support (through internal support champions and counselling services), visible during Pride and beyond
Evidence-Based Impact of Inclusive Prehospital Care
Emergency responders operate in a matrix of stressors; time pressure, risk and trauma, to name but a few. Built-in biases further strain patient-provider relationships. Inclusive care strategies can:
Reduce treatment errors due to misgendering or wrong assumptions
Improve patient adherence at handover
Strengthen community trust in prehospital services and HEMS and critical care response
Pride Month is a celebration; but healthcare, especially emergency care, is about action every day. At Eripio Health Ltd, our values are alive when we ensure LGBTQIA2S+ individuals receive respectful, competent, and trauma-informed care. We honour Pride because every life matters. Together, allied in Excellence, Respect, Integrity, Partnership, Innovation and driven by Outcomes—we make June truly count.
Happy Pride Month to our LGBTQIA2S+ colleagues, patients, and allies. Your presence enriches us and makes prehospital care safer, stronger, and more humane.