Physiotherapy SEEN

[VenusEnvyXX]

I am concerned about the CSP's position statement on transphobia and want to explore whether members think the CSP would benefit from having it's own SEEN.

If you're not familiar with SEENs, they are a balance to the LGBTQIA+ groups, can be formally recognised and eligible for funding on an equal footing as other network groups. They exist in civil service, journalism, police, HR, city, and the NHS one is nearly ready to launch.

I do not agree with Rob Yeldham, and previously, Karen Middleton, when they say that physiotherapy has a transphobia issue. If there is evidence of this I have not seen it.

I have been contacted by a number of CSP staff and members, who share my concerns that this announcement misrepresents the law, defames members and manages to be both unnecessary and unclear.

It seems that people who are diametrically opposed to the view that sex is real and immutable are employed by and in positions of power and influence at our trade union. This is absolutely fine, it is important for a trade union to reflect its membership. I am uncomfortable with the views of activists forming policy without due process and debate. I hope to be wrong, but I suspect that might have happened in the formation of this CSP position statement.

It is difficult to speak up about these issues, people are scared of being accused of transphobia, and rightly so, the personal penalties can be high.

If you would be willing to share your views or insights with me anonymously here then I'd be grateful. Alternatively, (and if you are willing to trust that I am who I say I am!):
email - [email protected]
substack - @venusenvyxx
twitter - @gussiegrips

I am proud to have had a long career in physio and it seems to me that this is little more than a training and communication issue, which, like sex, is not complicated.

bests
Elaine Miller

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-constitution-plans-to-strengthen-privacy-dignity-and-safety

Victoria Atkinson just tweeted this! Wonder if the CSP will consider it!

somehow since Cass, common sense is on the up. It’s so encouraging all this clarity and sense

So far no response to my complaint, and not even an acknowledgement FYI. Planning to follow up tomorrow since that will have given them a nice round week.

No response to complaints but they have written about “trans-exclusionary healthcare” aka single sex provision now. How dare women get a say in who treats them!

https://www.csp.org.uk/news/2024-04-30-move-nhs-constitution-fails-address-issues-facing-nhs

He never mentions trans men, does he?

hwres the link to the consultantion
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5065647-a-reminder-that-the-nhs-is-consulting-on-single-sex-wards-etc-so-get-your-voice-heard

The CSP have list the plot

Can we have a vote if no cinfidence in the EDB committee? That must be where this comes from.

Why does he only ever mention trans women? Surely he is now disregarding trans men. Is Rob a trans woman? Are members of the EDI committee trans? Certainly seems to reflect a bias there.

I attended a training session about a year ago where a member of the committee had been invited to talk about equality, diversity and belonging as it was referred to then. They were rather aggressive in their tone and I felt very patronised.

Thanks for the heads up and link Radfiz.
Just had a look and comments have started- let’s see how long that one lasts before it is closed or censored.
https://www.csp.org.uk/news/2024-04-30-move-nhs-constitution-fails-address-issues-facing-nhs

Yes no reply to mine either! Maybe I will do the same, be good for them to know we won’t back down on this issue!

From the government website:

In the proposed changes to the NHS Constitution for England, patients will be empowered to request that intimate care is carried out by someone of the same biological sex, where reasonably possible.

I find it actually quite outrageous that CSP/Rob/a committee think women shouldn’t have the right to this.

I have added a sarcastic comment to iCSP. I assume the CSP are being sarcastic at this point so if you can’t beat them join them.

Their story conveniently leaves out the fact that the proposed change applies only to intimate care. I assume people will not object to a trans person taking their blood pressure!

How has anyone in good conscience disagreed with the icsp post about closed posts? Ffs

Rob says h wants to hear from us https://x.com/associatesatcsp/status/1785553129288712258?s=46

I’ve finally had a response to my complaint that my iCSP post was removed and that I have been accused of transphobia.
It was a copy and paste from the comment on the iCSP discussion where they repeat that it ‘should be possible to discuss these issues without using language which is hurtful to the trans community’.
It didn’t answer my question about what wording they would have found acceptable and still kept the meaning of the point I was making (that people who identify as transwomen remain male), and it didn’t answer the subsequent question I had asked about why comments were closed on such an important discussion.
I've emailed back to request an actual answer rather than a copy and paste. Cheryl (the digital team admin) seems lovely and really helpful and has said she will chase up the people involved.
Who have you emailed DeepBee and munsbit?

I emailed to complain about the csplgbt tweets about lesbian visibility day! I told them I considered it homophobic and that the multiple negative replies to the tweet were putting the physiotherapy profession into disrepute! No answer as of yet…..

Sorry for the radio silence on my part - I was away with work, gigs, family and have picked up a bug so am behind with, well, everything.

I'm sorry to say that my concerns are not diminishing, not least because the CSP seems to be doubling down on a position statement which I have been told by a KC is not legal, is refusing to engage with members and refusing to debate it on iCSP, in private, or on social media.

It is unclear who worked on these statements and where they sought guidance. Rob mentioned on iCSP that the NHS Confederation referred to this as a "culture war" which was commented on by a member - and I'd agree with their point, this is not a culture war, it is a matter of basic safeguarding and standards of care.

Amazingly, the best summary I have seen on the legal and women's issues was on daytime tv.

Sonia Sodha

Next steps - what do we want to do? We have a decent number of members who have concerns, how do we get our exec and council to hear us?

This consultation will be important - the government is seeking information on bodies and institutions which have misunderstood, deliberately or otherwise, equality in law.

It is my hope that we can find a way to fix this without me having to report my own governing body and trade union as one of the misguided bodies.

I have completed the survey.
I have considered emailing the enquiries desk at the CSP with my ongoing concerns but just think they’ll fob me off. Has anyone had any decent responses from them?

Joint letters seem to be what people do. How many signatures do we need to be listened to?

I emailed the enquiries email address as that was what was advised on the forum and also on the CSP complaints page. I have just emailed again to point out they haven’t even acknowledged my message.

I have also added that leaving a homophobic tweet on one of their official pages is a tacit endorsement.

I suspect a bunch of admin staff are being made to reply while those in charge of putting the statements out are in hiding.

Yes, the "drain on staff resources" is an odd argument to make. Surely member engagement is a good thing?

I'm still stunned that only 7% of the membership votes. It would be interesting know how many use iCSP or answer the recent survey thing (I didn't, it's linked to my membership number so, like iCSP, being honest feels like a risk. Which is an interesting way for a member to feel)