Why no N/A option for gender identity on NHS forms? (Title amended by MNHQ at the request of the OP)

They need to catch up. Guidance on sex education for schools 2025 says:

70. In teaching this, schools should be mindful that beyond the facts and the law about biological sex and gender reassignment there is significant debate, and they should be careful not to endorse any particular view or teach it as fact. For example, they should not teach as fact that all people have a gender identity.

When I've had to fill in NHS forms I could choose "None" to answer the "Religion" question.

If they absolutely have to have a gender identity question, the same option should be available.

agreed

One problem seems to be that each NHS trust (and even individual services within trusts) seem often to create their own forms and letter templates. So there are hundreds of little committees full of medics and managers rather than communications professionals, creating their own text.

And all of these meetings seem to have an obsession with using language to signal 'brand values', rather than to ensure clarity. So there is a lot of obfuscation in general, with the gender thing just being the most extreme case.

I wish each trust would get a single communications teams to take the lead - guided by a single set of communication guidelines from a central NHS entity.

The fragmentation means that it will take a long time for this stupid idological language to be stripped out.

Was this a 111 call? It sounds like what I was asked when I phoned 111 for my elderly mother. First they asked her sex (which I'd already told them by saying the call was about my mother, who is obviously female). Then they asked something about gender identity so I just repeated that the call was about my mother who is female and we moved on.

They must waste a lot of time having to explain the gender identity question to people, particularly elderly people.

So what happens for the majority who don't have a GI?
Either they lie, the call handler lies for them or they get refused a possibly life saving service?

That's how this crap has been embedded into society - by compelling others to buy into it and then using the fake stats that result to make draw various inaccurate conclusions.

There's so much in the NHS that is anti social and unfit for purpose and this is just one example.

And this will of course be massively more expensive than just using a single, centrally produced section.

The amount of money this ridiculous ideology has cost the `NHS is eye watering. It would have been far cheaper and more effective to provide appropriate mental health treatment/support. Nobody can change sex. Everyone can have preferences which might, more commonly, be associated with the opposite sex.

Same reason my toddler got asked how much he smoked, it's a just general form.

Everyone gets asked the same questions. I have zero chance of being pregnant but am not offended to be asked. I've never smoked or taken drugs either.

I think most people would understand what pregnancy, drugs etc are about but wouldn't have a clue what gender identity is. They had to ask the question because some people 'didn't identify with their sex at birth'. If the person on the end of the phone has to explain what something means then this highlights a problem (as shown in the census). Maybe they should ask 'do you identify with your birth sex' or something similar it would make far more sense.

Maybe they should ask 'do you identify with your birth sex' or something similar it would make far more sense.

I don't think that would make sense to a lot of elderly people either. I can imagine my mother being as baffled by that as being asked for her 'gender identity'.

And I'm not even sure what my answer to that would be. What does it mean to 'identify with your birth sex'?

I would be extremely frustrated if forced to give a false answer to a question and wasn’t able to get advice unless I did.

There is no way anyone should be offended by the option to say you don’t have a gender identity. Therefore it is less offensive to add that option in than it is to leave it out.

I hope any of us caught up with this nonsense feel able to complain once the immediate effect of the medical problem is resolved. It’s the only way we will ever root this nonsense out.

I'm not sure it's right to say 'the majority' don't have a gender identity.

Actually, no-one has a gender identity; there's no such thing.

Likewise, no-one has a guardian angel or an immortal soul. It's true some people think they do ... but they're wrong.

Of course we shouldn't discriminate against those who believe in such things. (Our pity should mostly be left hidden, for kindness' sake.) But by the same token, such foolish believers should not be allowed to call shots against the rest of us sensible people.

-- No place on an NHS form for 'What is your guardian angel called?'. Likewise no place for 'What is your gender identity?'

@CassOle I agree 100% “I don’t have a gender identity” should be an option. If it helps I go for “other” and then there is usually a free form box to add I don’t have a gender identity.

Imagine putting your father's health at risk in order to make a point about trans people existing.

Surely you're not suggesting you believe in trampling over the rights and beliefs of others?

The OP's father stated he doesn't have a gender identity. He's entitled to his belief. I'm sure you don't think that older people aren't entitled to rights and self determination as that would be awful ageism?

This is where the Conversion Practices Act (as it will be if passed) comes in handy.

It will be a criminal offence to try to persuade someone that they have a gender identity if they say they don't. Because this law will work both ways - telling someone they do have a GI or a specific one OR that they don't have one at all.

Of course, getting the police to act against an NHS Trust might be no easy thing but the results could be a delight.

Fun times ahead!

Oh ffs, TPA! There's no equivalence between being asked about drugs/alcohol and gender identity. The first are tangible and have clearly evidenced effects while the latter is a belief system.

You do make yourself look foolish.

Well isn’t that silly. Are you actually saying that if someone doesn’t comply they are risking their health? Because that just acknowledges that trans ideology holds non-believers to ransom to the point where they must comply to receive healthcare.

“Let’s make non-believers comply with our belief system through emotional blackmail, lest they put their health at risk, that will soon win them round.”

TRAs: winning the day, every day.

I read an article from the US by someone whose elderly father sought health care for whatever condition but didn't get it because the doctor corrected him/policed his speech, so the doctor said 'partner' every time the man said 'wife' etc.

I hope that doctor was pleased with himself.