@confuseddotcomma
My personal interest comes from the NHS. Single sex accommodation is mandatory and when breached this has to be reported. But trans people can choose their own ward. It makes no sense - if it is such a problem having a male body in a female space, why is that suddenly ok if they are trans? And I was thinking, the only way that could make sense was if twaw has a legal basis and the NHS trust could say, this is ok because they are legally women.
Personal experience of trans people being placed on ward of their choosing even when it is distressing to existing female patients.
hi
confusedd do you happen to know how frequently the Single Sex Accommodation policy is breached in the usual way (by putting non-female identifying males on the ward) and in that case, what risk assessment/mitigation takes place to protect female patients?
Our local hospital trust does not record a SSA breach when it is caused by placing a transwoman on the female ward is very concerning and therefore apparently no risk assessment/mitigation takes place.
The trust policy includes people that identify as a woman on a part-time basis as eligible to choose to be on a female only ward (I'm guessing yours is similar?). I wonder how they can square it that a male merely stating that they wish to be placed on the female ward (no other criteria required regarding appearance/records etc) overrides all safeguarding considerations and any wish that a female patient has to be on a single sex ward.
It leaves the staff in a potentially awful situation as they have little backup or authority to deny a request from any man to be on the female ward, even if they have concerns for his intentions - in our trust, staff that mention a person's trans status (even if this is unverified) in any situation other than very specific essential medical discussion could be prosecuted or receive a large fine (the threat to staff made in the policy). If a female patient protests at a male person on the ward, the staff can't discuss it with them or other staff.
I think the NHS Trusts have received faulty legal advice either directly or indirectly from Stonewall and EHRC. The policy for our local trust is currently under review so it will be interesting to see what changes they make as the current version is a shocker.