Lesbian, gay and bisexual people are 50% more likely to report having a negative experience when dealing with their family doctor than their heterosexual peers, researchers have found.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge, Harvard Medical School and the Rand Corporation reported that LGB people are more likely to identify problems with communication with medics at their local GP practice, have less trust and confidence in their family doctor and have a worse level of overall satisfaction with services, reports The Guardian.

The study saw experts examine data from more than 2 million responses to the 2009-10 English general practice survey, including 27,000 responses from people who identified themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual.

Among the respondents, 22% percent of gay men and 26% of bisexual men said their general health was “poor” compared with 20% of heterosexual men, reported the study published in the Journal of General Medicine.

25% of lesbians and 31% of bisexual women said they had poor general health – compared to 21% of heterosexual women.

The study also found that LGB people were more likely to report having long-standing psychological or emotional problems.

“This research demonstrates how lesbian, gay and bisexual people continue to experience poorer mental health and poorer experiences when accessing primary care than their heterosexual counterparts,” says James Taylor, head of policy at the charity Stonewall.

“It is vital that lesbian, gay and bisexual people are able to access high-quality healthcare free from discrimination and action is taken to improve their health.”