NHS training right now - EA10 listed gender but not sex

[Twoshoesnewshoes]

The EA 10 has just been shown as part of the equality and diversity training. They listed gender and not sex.
I have messaged the trainers and asked them to change this and they have said they will look into it.
just want to triple check nothing has changed? The EA was open to change from 12.08.23???

No it hasn’t. I had this and complained afterwards. But if it happened again, I’d hope I’d have the courage to speak and say if you can’t get this right, what else in your training material is factually wrong and then get up and leave

Oh and no one has the power to go beyond where the law is now or whatever crap they may spout to justify ‘stonewall’ law

Well done for pointing it out. As lanadelgrey said, if they get something so fundamental as the law incorrect (which can be bloody c & p'd) what other basic errors are they pushing? Oh, I know - men are women when they say they are 🙄😅

And it's 'gender reassignment' not gender, isn't it?
(Although the meaning of gender reassignment, at least from m to f and vice versa is taken more widely these days, i.e. not only a gender reassignment cert).

Thanks all
i will definitely chase it then and make sure it gets changed. It’s so rubbish!

I’ve just looked at the inclusion policies on the NHS trust website and it says they work with the nine protected characteristics of the EA 10, then lists gender and not sex??!!

others have challenged this, if you look back on the board and also Sex Matters have some resources.

It's still the Equality Act 2010. Or from 2010. It hasn't been updated, as some people like to state. And organisations cannot rewrite an Act of Parliament just to suit their agenda (or for any other reason).

Changing the protected characteristic of ‘sex’ to ‘gender’ is now widespread in the NHS unfortunately.

In instances where Equality Impact Assessments are completed in the NHS this enables them to state there is no detrimental effect on the protected characteristic of ‘sex’ because the word ‘sex’ is simply replaced with the word ‘gender’. It’s unbelievable.

Do they still do feedback forms on training? If they do I'd flag it up. If they get something so basic wrong, to be it would undermine all of their training. I'd be pointing out this company (if external) or whomever they got their materials from should not be used in future.

Stupid, ignorant or ideologically captured, none are a good look for providing training. Especially as it might make the trust vulnerable to lawsuits when their 'training' is applied in the real world.

Sorry, *'to me', I'm typing this with a cold.

It’s internal trust based training, and the trust website stars gender and doesn’t mention sex.
so I guess I need to go up to directorate?

They can't swap words in the law to suit their preference.

Well done for pointing it out, OP.

I am constantly pointing this out in our internal policy docs (also NHS). Everything that comes out of HR gets it wrong.

Gender is no longer a cutesy euphemism for sex.

It is being changed so they can deliberately misinterpret the actual law.

'Gender', 'gender identity' or 'gender expression' are not protected characteristics.

Sex
Gender reassignment.

Here's the relevant link;
''4 The protected characteristics
The following characteristics are protected characteristics—
age;
disability;
gender reassignment;
marriage and civil partnership;
pregnancy and maternity;
race;
religion or belief;
sex;
sexual orientation.''
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/4

Thank you 🙏

Frustratingly, it's a common misrepresentation. When I queried it (not NHS), I was told that gender was more inclusive!! However, they backed down when I pointed out that they should either state the law correctly or link to where it was correctly stated.

I think this is as much to do with a generation that thinks relying of wikipedia is doing research.

As with the list from the link from the Act itself, you could maybe also suggest they look at the EHRC web site where they are listed, and explain what that means in practice.

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/equality-act/protected-characteristics

But more an more in the NHS, despite everyong wanting to support that level of incompetence and lack of knowledge of good practice by the admin side of trusts is appalling.

You shouldn't have to go to the Directorate (who would probably delegate an investigation to an equally ignorant junior) but if they fail to correct there mistake then you might have to.

What would be good would be in NHS England would circulate NHS trusts etc., with a simple information shee to make sure those doing the work follow the law.

And maybe a handy little side note, that medical practitioners actually need to know someone's biological sex and it can influence diagnosis and treatment!

Good luck!

Sorry typing cant keep up with thoughts:

But more an more in the NHS, despite everyong wanting to support that level of incompetence and lack of knowledge of good practice by the admin side of trusts is appalling.

But more an more in the NHS, despite everyong wanting to support it, the level of incompetence and lack of knowledge of good practice by the admin side of trusts is appalling.

i contacted sex matters but haven’t heard anything back.
I have now contacted the Equality Advisory Support which I think is a government dept? I’m not sure where to start with this. I haven’t signed my contract yet so I won’t do that, and say I can’t as I’m not protected by the equality and diversity policy as the trust have omitted a protected characteristic. Hopefully that will start something?

Maybe try EHRC?

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/contact-us

What bollocks!! Get them to change it.

Why do we always have to be the ones to stick our heads above the parapet and risk being blacklisted? They shouldn't be doing it in the first place, EHRC need to step up and put a stop to it.

When I've challenged this with NHS Trusts most corrected it but some stuck to the line that they deliberately use 'gender' as a more inclusive term. I'd keep at it, good suggestion to say if they are going to misquote the law they need to transparently state that this has been changed.