Submitted Hywel Dda University Health Board, usual story wrt staff policy, Stonewall Silver Champion at one stage but disillusioned with Stonewall and did not consider it offered value for money by 2024.
No policies on single sex accommodation or transgender patients but shared a pretty garbled statement as part of its FOI response:
"‘In general terms, there is national work taking place around single sex accommodation in NHS Wales led by the Chief Nursing Officer for Wales. Within Hywel Dda University Health Board, patients are, where possible, assigned to same sex ward areas. However, there are exceptions whereby this may not be possible. These include clinical areas such as assessment units, coronary care units and other areas where a higher level of care is required.
With regard to transgender patients, staff should remember that, under the Equalities Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty, it is a legal requirement to ensure that trans people are not discriminated against.
It should be noted that, previously, transgender and non-binary people were accommodated in line with their stated gender identity. In all cases, staff communicated to all patients and/or their carers when such a situation arose, ensuring sensitivity to all views and acting accordingly to protect the privacy and dignity of all patients.
Following the recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of sex within the Equality Act 2010 being biological sex only, the Equality and Human Rights Commission have been consulting on their Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations. Within the proposed guidance, when considering whether providing a single-sex service is proportionate, there needs to be a fair balance between:
• The benefits of offering the service as a separate or single-sex service, and
• The needs of those who are access it, and
• The impact on those who are excluded from accessing it.
The service provider should consider whether the disadvantage to trans people, and any other people who may be disadvantaged, outweighs the benefits of providing a single-sex service. They should also consider whether there is a less intrusive option than excluding trans people which would be proportionate. Therefore, any decision should be based on:
• An objective and evidence-based assessment of the circumstances and relevant information
• Respecting the rights and needs of transgender people and the detriment to them if they are denied access and balancing that against the needs of other service users and any detriment to them if the transgender person is admitted."