In 2018 Liam Hackett (CEO 'Ditch the Label') attempted to pressure a hospital's women's breast screening service which prohibited men from entering the waiting area. Hackett claimed that his being stopped was 'sexism' and he felt cold in the corridor outside. He was unsuccesful.
Independent
7 March 2018
'Anger at hospital's ban on men in breast screening clinic waiting area'
(extract)
"[Mr Hackett] urged the hospital on to “immediately review and revoke” the “dated, sexist & disgusting” policy, which he said had caused “offence, upset and embarrassment”, in a post on Twitter
A spokeswoman for the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS said it was “not a case of men not being allowed into the breast centre, but very specifically one interior waiting room.”
“Men are welcome in the outside area but women have to take their tops off, just put one layer back on and walk through that small waiting room to go through for their scan,” she told The Independent.
“In feedback, patients said it makes them feel uncomfortable when there are men in that waiting room, so we instigated the policy to protect the women who are using that facility. It is to make them feel safe secure and dignified and that they are treated in a place where there interests are put first.”
She said the clinic was aimed at women who have been invited as part of national screening programme and are generally those who are not presenting symptoms.
The appointment lasts around 20 minutes and around 50 women are seen each day.
“The policy has been in place for 10 years or more and we have not had that many complaints in that time,” she said. “Patients who have been referred by a GP who do have symptoms would be seen at a different outpatients clinic and they are encouraged to bring support with them.”
Those who wanted to be accompanied by a man were also able to attend the outpatients clinic." (continues)
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/men-ban-breast-screening-clinic-waiting-area-hospital-brighton-anger-a8243666.html