Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) is to draw up guidelines for hospitals on recognising gay and lesbian relationships and the partners of patients during their treatment, according to the author of a report on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) health. Caoimhe Gleeson, chairwoman of the HSE’s LGBT health sub-committee, said the guidelines were “definitely the next thing we are working on”. Speaking at the publication of the report yesterday she said: “There are legal issues around recognising same-sex relationships but hospitals and healthcare professionals have discretion when it comes to recognising same-sex partners during treatment. If there are guidelines in place awareness of the issue is increased.” …

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