To seek assurances that I’ll be put on a single sex ward?

Thoosa · 2022-03-18T19:21:52+00:00

Not single gender. Single sex. Im due for one, maybe two, surgeries this year. I’m a DV and rape survivor. I’m nervous.

Linguini · 18/03/2022 19:22

Given recent events you're not being irrational. I'd be worried too.

ClemDanFango · 18/03/2022 19:24

There’s no guarantee. The NHS are trans advocates and will tell you what you want to hear. There could very well me transwomen on your ward and you won’t know.

Original poster

Thoosa · 18/03/2022 19:26

There has to be a duty to balance needs and the NHS needs to start working out how.

Now I’ve really let myself dwell on it, I’m getting quite pissed off at the possibility they’d consider my trauma secondary to someone else’s identity.

OP posts:

HermioneWeasley · 18/03/2022 19:28

I think it’s important that women ask and make a fuss - it’s a publicly funded service and we’re half the population.

Teddybearen · 18/03/2022 19:29

I agree with you op, I’d be pissed off too. I’m sorry you went through that and I’m sorry that you’re probably not guaranteed what you need when I’m hospital

Original poster

Thoosa · 18/03/2022 19:30

@Linguini

Given recent events you're not being irrational. I'd be worried too.

I know.

Three times in about ten days I’ve read something that’s put the fear of God into me.

Today’s being <a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220317203204/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/17/hospital-told-police-patient-not-raped-alleged-attacker-transgender/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20220317203204/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/17/hospital-told-police-patient-not-raped-alleged-attacker-transgender/

Apologies to the feminists who are already au fait with the issues, I’m just wondering how to secure my own individual safety and peace of mind.

Anybody here work in Hospital administration? PALS? Healthcare policy? NHS generally? Do you know how your hospital or trust would handle it?

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Theunamedcat · 18/03/2022 19:32

Question pals on policy? In writing not on the phone

Emelene · 18/03/2022 19:32

Personally I think I would email PALs in advance. If they can’t guarantee it on a ward, perhaps they could give you your own room? I’m not sure though, but it’s more likely to happen when planned in advance. I’m sorry you’re in this position.

MarthaFokker · 18/03/2022 19:32

I'd be very surprised if they even could guarantee that.

I mean how would it work? They promise you there'll be no transgender patients on your ward and then at the time of your operation, there might well be.

I don't see how they could really know in advance. Would you want them to cancel your operations if it turns out there was a trans patient on your ward?

Original poster

Thoosa · 18/03/2022 19:32

Thanks guys.

I’m not normally diffident but the thought of asking and being told “no” would make me feel so very much worse, I think.

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Original poster

Thoosa · 18/03/2022 19:35

@Emelene @Theunamedcat

Yes I might try to gird myself to try PALS.

It’s counterintuitive to possibly rile people before entering their building and voluntarily losing consciousness. Very vulnerable feeling.

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FelicityBeedle · 18/03/2022 19:35

The percentage of women who are trans is tiny, probably even less in a hospital environment as most are elderly. Wards are rarely single sex, but bays almost always are. This means the people you share a room with will likely share your sex.

You can always request in advance due to your trauma

Original poster

Thoosa · 18/03/2022 19:39

The thing is a) In this town the trans numbers aren’t as tiny as all that, b) Statistics aren’t the same as safeguarding, c) NHS trusts have acted so intransigently, I’m afraid I’ll make myself vulnerable by even asking.

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Theunamedcat · 18/03/2022 19:39

@FelicityBeedle

The percentage of women who are trans is tiny, probably even less in a hospital environment as most are elderly. Wards are rarely single sex, but bays almost always are. This means the people you share a room with will likely share your sex.

You can always request in advance due to your trauma

Trans isn't the issue it's rapists being protected by hospitals that is the problem surely

Original poster

Thoosa · 18/03/2022 19:40

Quite honestly, I shouldn’t have to discuss my rape with administrators, either.

Maybe an NHS insider will feel able to comment.

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yellowbridgebang · 18/03/2022 19:41

You should probably talk to your consultant planning the surgeries (in terms of it being in records), the ward manager if you know which ward you will be admitted to and PALS. But I would prepare yourself for the answer to be no, they can't assure anything as people are admitted and placed on clinical need only on speciality wards and then grouped in bays within the ward.

Original poster

Thoosa · 18/03/2022 19:41

Trans isn't the issue it's rapists being protected by hospitals that is the problem surely

Yes you’re right.

The NHS don’t seem to grasp that, though, and that is the real problem, I suppose?

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Linguini · 18/03/2022 19:42

The percentage of women who are trans is tiny

The "tiny percentage" argument doesn't wash seeing as it only takes one male person in any female space to wreck it for all the other women.

vickyc90 · 18/03/2022 19:42

I very much doubt they can guarantee it, I would suggest contacting your consultants sec and PALS to ask about the availability of a side room. Assuming on the day they don't need it for isolation.

I would say you will need to disclose your history for them to accommodate it.

StillWeRise · 18/03/2022 19:43

@FelicityBeedle I don't think OP is worried about 'the tiny percentage of women who are trans' as those would be transmen, and so statistically unlikely to pose a threat to her.

OP if it helps you be brave, consider that you are being brave not just for yourself but for other women too who may not be as well informed as you. If you get anything other than a full assurance from the hospital I'd reply citing stories such as the one quoted here, and copy in the local newspaper and MP

Original poster

Thoosa · 18/03/2022 19:43

@yellowbridgebang

You should probably talk to your consultant planning the surgeries (in terms of it being in records), the ward manager if you know which ward you will be admitted to and PALS. But I would prepare yourself for the answer to be no, they can't assure anything as people are admitted and placed on clinical need only on speciality wards and then grouped in bays within the ward.

I think this might be an elective only ward. Not sure.

Why can’t they just organise by male/female/unisex and save us all this anxiety and special pleading?

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Jojobees · 18/03/2022 19:45

Is paying for a side room an option?
Lots of wards have amenity rooms that you pay for meaning total and utter privacy?

Linguini · 18/03/2022 19:45

Trans isn't the issue it's rapists being protected by hospitals that is the problem surely

Trans people don't stop being trans as soon as they use their penis to rape.

The problem isn't trans people, female trans people don't pose a problem, the problem is male people, trans or not.

yellowbridgebang · 18/03/2022 19:45

I suspect the issue wouldn't be that they wouldn't want to accommodate you but that there is no way they can guarantee it as they have no idea who will be on the ward when your surgery is planned. I guess they could agree to a system of checking before your surgery and you declining before it begins. That said, they still can't plan for any further admissions after you or where patients need to be placed.

tanktopsruleok · 18/03/2022 19:46

@Thoosa

Trans isn't the issue it's rapists being protected by hospitals that is the problem surely

Yes you’re right.

The NHS don’t seem to grasp that, though, and that is the real problem, I suppose?

But rapists are men and you are worried about sharing a ward with a biological male ( regardless how they identify) you should absolutely feel safe and protected