Legal action launched after NHS Trust allowed bearded male patients who identify as women onto female psychiatric wards

Our CEO, Chris Oliver

Oliver was appointed in May this year. I wonder if he is the sort of gay man who respects women, or is he a 'queer' man, who might prioritise the TQ+ over safeguarding female patients?

I suspect EDI's involvement was more to do with the rights of a trans identified man than the rights of a vulnerable woman.

When Dr A raised this scenario with the equality, diversity and inclusion team, she claimed she was told that the female inpatient would have to advocate for herself to justify why she wanted same-sex intimate care and the nurse in charge would have to decide if her argument was valid.

“I said that’s nonsense because the person is most likely to be psychotic and then there’s the power differential and potentially the education differential,” the psychiatrist said.”

As much as anything else, this raises huge concerns about the way psychiatric wards are run.

She alleged that her repeated requests for the trust to clarify its plans to change the policy were met with delays, resistance and suggestions that the judgment might be challenged in the European Court of Human Rights.

Dear Tesco,

I believe I have a right to liberate this tube of Pringles from your store because I believe the Theft Act 1968 might be challenged in the European Court of Human Rights.

I hope you will understand this and accommodate my needs.

Thank you.

Are we sure that the patients and staff have been correctly identified in this report?

There was no previous Employment Tribunal case. I think what you are referring to is when Dr A raised an internal grievance & that won't have been reported externally.

Even if you wanted to argue that TIMs in women's toilets and changing rooms aren't an absolute threat, that the threat of TIMs in women's prisons and sports is a moral panic, you're really going to die on the altar of supporting the most dangerous and unpredictable men in close proximity to the most vulnerable of women in mental health units?
Really? Civic society is prepared to push their luxury beliefs to the point of destruction?
We've already seen what happens when politically correct considerations trump public safety in the case of Valdo Calocane and Axel Rudabukana.
We're prepared to just let innocent and vulnerable citizens be at ultimate risk because liberals in their ivory towers prioritise inclusion over safety.

the female inpatient would have to justify why she wanted same sex intimate care, for example citing a history of sexual abuse, and the nurse in charge would have to decide if her argument was good enough.

How were EDI even involved in this?

Surely the right to request same sex care has nothing to do with whether you have been sexually abused?

Are they suggesting the the rules are different if the person providing the care is a man identifying as a woman?

Or are they saying that patients in a psychiatric hospital don't have the right to request same sex care?

What on earth was going on?

"When Dr A raised this scenario with the equality, diversity and inclusion team, she claimed she was told that the female inpatient would have to advocate for herself to justify why she wanted same-sex intimate care and the nurse in charge would have to decide if her argument was valid."

This team needs to be the first to be called into court, and they can justify why they think a women has to justify having their personal care delivered by someone who the same sex as they are.

They can also justify their salaries, I'd love for one of them to explain to me why the NHS should be paying them for anything whatsoever.

These affinity groups have got to go, they're a waste of money and space.

Well done to Dr A for taking up this fight.

Thanks for this!

I am enraged but sadly not surprised at the shit show that is our NHS management.

Background on Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust that I found, for anyone who is interested:

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust - Overview - Care Quality Commission

We served a warning notice on Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust on 12 August 2026 for failing to meet the regulations related to oversight of people waiting for treatment or intervention by adult community mental health services.

Manchester MH and social care trust praised by Stonewall | HSJ Local | Health Service Journal
(you need to be subscribed to read more of this, and I can't see a date)

Manchester MH and social care trust praised by Stonewall

WORKFORCE: Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust has been named as the highest performing mental health trust in the North of England for its work on discrimination and creating an inclusive workplace.

GMMH takes Manchester Village Pride 2026 | News and Events | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT

(GMMH and Pride, 2026)

Our CEO, Chris Oliver said:
"Today was my first Manchester Pride Parade with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Despite the rain, the atmosphere was incredible.
Pride is important to me because everyone deserves to feel able to be themselves, at work, in healthcare, and in life. It's a celebration of how far we've come as a community but a reminder of why visibility, inclusion and belonging still matter.
A huge thank you to Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust for the invitation and to all the colleagues and allies who made today so special."

Chair of the LGBTQ+ Staff Network, Nik Hookey, said:
“It was fabulous to join with NHS colleagues across Greater Manchester to show that we are united in making the NHS a great place to work and to receive treatment whatever your sexual or gender identity. Our Staff Network is here all year round to provide support.”

Living our Values | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT

GMMH NHS FT's "values." Really.

So sorry to hear that @TheDisguiseOfReasonableness
Shocking.

FGS I do wish our NHS would stop dragging its bloody heels and get on with it? What are they scared of?
Well done Dr A and good luck

I’ve previously spent rather more time than I care to remember on psych wards, and this story makes me feel sick. You already have so little privacy, so little control over your environment, and no ability to escape. Patients can often be distressed or disinhibited - I’ve seen women run naked and screaming through the ward. To be forced into such close quarters with a man, while being told he’s a woman, when you’re unsure of reality anyway, is cruelty.

The truly terrifying thing is that the senior management are acting in line with guidance. If they only read that, they will be convinced what they’re doing is not only right but legal. The FOIs that @KnottyAuty organised show that: seeninhealth.org/map-policies/

The only fix is getting the right guidance out from NHSE (or DHSC, if NHSE are too busy imploding), and they’re dragging their feet. It’s hard to understand why they haven’t published updated guidance based on the Supreme Court ruling, unless you assume ill intent or Ministerial fear of TRA backlash.

Wondering if any MNers can shed light on the previous case brought by this doctor that was partially successful?

Fisrt thought on reading the female inpatient would have to justify why she wanted same sex intimate care, for example citing a history of sexual abuse, and the nurse in charge would have to decide if her argument was good enough fucking hell, the cruelty, is someone getting off on it?

I recently listened to a podcast about Lord of the Flies and how William Golding's experience on WW2 led to him believing that humans aren't good and that those on the Allies side were dishonest about how they much enjoyed war, and could avoid it because they were fighting the obvious baddies.
I can't help wondering how much some people are enjoying putting women in their place.

The NHS keeps me alive for fuck's sake, it's saved my life 3 times and provides the medication that stops me dropping down dead.

Why does it fall to small charities and women's groups to start litigation, to make the NHS comply with the LAW! Surely the government with its legions of legal staff and deep pockets are responsible. I despair. Truly.

Sue the arses off them. It's the only way the NHS will reflect and make changes. Absolute fuckwits whoever thought this was safe practice.

They either are or pretend to be true believers. So a transwoman is a woman and women aren't a danger to other women.

Absolutely, another shero for the rollcall.

And thank you to Dr A who has no doubt put her career on the line in order to expose these predatory NHS staff.

Yet senior NHS staff see no problem with that? They must have a really unpleasant, sadistic mindset to make those decisions.
Hopefully some of them will be appearing in a court having to explain why they're so determined that flashers and voyeurs must have access to vulnerable mentally unwell women. 😡

For me the jawdrop moment was "If a male patient went into the women's ward, there'd be a high level investigation".

But if he pops on a frock and calls himself Julie, management will PUT him in the women's ward?!

Found one on X (thanks Sharron Davies)

https://www.thetimes.com/article/2d7d94d0-2c78-46a8-88fb-7b0998cde18d?shareToken=3b56778fad8257e644e6078c52434662