NHS nurse on my facebook just changed her profile picture to this

[welcometothepartyyy]

Inappropriate, much?

It is not a balanced statement though: single sex spaces are there for safety, privacy and dignity. Mixed sex spaces hugely undermine safeguarding. As well as being provided for by law. Plus clinical safety.

No, she needed to not post it at all.

Because if I saw that and then I ended up in hospital when she was on her shift, I'd be wondering whether she would treat all patients equally, or whether she would give preferential treatment to the people she considered more worthy.

And I'd be wondering whether it was just her or whether all the nurses thought these things.

I don't believe that stating a man can't become a woman, isn't the same though!

Why?

Because ultimately in order to be professional you have to treat a male patient as if they are male and a female patient as female. You need to understand they may be on medication or have had surgery because of their trans status. Because if you don't, you are unprofessional and risking their actual health!!!

Stating 'I think transwomen are below contempt' in any sende would be unacceptable though. But that's fundamentally different.

And the post in the OP falls into this latter camp as a direct attack on a group.

Beyond that, arguably being on a single sex ward, could put them at risk because if they do 'pass' visually you get the risk of HCP not checking notes properly and treating them as the wrong sex.

In a private room, it does make it clearer that their is a need for caution about their sex and even pronouns. Which is actually better and gives more protections for this person whilst protecting their dignity too.

It's so much more appropriate for all concerned.

And it's nuts that staff are being disciplined for observing reality whereas those who state a belief which attacks non believers for their beliefs is able to stand and
a) isn't challenged
b) even in a sensible debate there is this notion that stating a man can't become a woman in the context of a medical setting is the same as a full on ad hominem attack on a group identity based on political beliefs.

One is stating the actual truth and highlighting actual practical issues
The other is just a political prejudice.

And the wrong one is being attacked as being unacceptable.

So do you not support the likes of Amy Hamm and Rachel Mead either?

See my above post.

The comparison is false equivalence.

I'd go as far as saying there is a whiff of whistleblowers being hung out to dry too.

@Mamma2017
"
The issue here is nothing to do with her political views-of course she is entitled to disagree with Tory policy. Like someone said a lot of NHS workers as people feel the same. The difference is her comment around giving care on her ward. You just cannot as a nurse state publicly that you’d rather treat one patient over another because of their political beliefs. Well clearly you can do that but not without breaching policy and standards of your profession and service provider and bringing the NHS & Royal College of Nursing into disrepute."
*
She hasn't said she would rather treat a trans person, she said she'd rather share a ward with one.* It's a really important distinction. Nothing in her post is breeching professional standards. And I'm as GC as they come.

I don't believe that stating a man can't become a woman, isn't the same though!

No I don't believe they are the same either. But how do you propose we maintain our freedom to state facts and political opinions if our opponents aren't also afforded that freedom?

You have missed the point.

At the heart of this is the growing problem that people can't differentiate between a fact and an opinion.

Even if you believe in transgenderism, sex is still essential to healthcare. It's not an opinion. It's a reality.

People stating this on social media are being hauled over disciplinaries for this.

That deeply problematic. They NEED to be able to say this to protect patients in various ways - that's true of all patients including trans patients.

It is in essence a crucial part of safeguarding and whistleblowing - the ability to speak the truth without fear. And yes stating that men can't be women and saying they can is causing harm IS whistleblowing.

The post in the OP is a political opinion which the nurse is entitled to. But even as she has that sex continues to exist and be a reality. And that can't be ignored to protect the feelings of some because that risks the physical safety of others.

The idea of single sex wards actually being single sex isnt harmful if you are trans. It just put you in a more appropriate space. It is neutral in terms of its effect. It's just being framed as negative which in itself is CREATING a problem that isn't there. It's indulging the idea that validation is essential and must be done at all times and if it's not then somehow it's abuse. There are times when it is APPROPRIATE to say someone is trans and not the opposite sex.

Opinions are not facts. Facts are not opinions.

But we live in a world where social media is blurring this boundary and newspapers have so many columnists mascarading as journalists rather than just political windbags. And people can't tell the difference anymore.

And IT MATTERS.

You can all please yourselves but I didn't get into this battle because I believed people should be disciplined for saying stupid things on social media.

Please link to the NHS social media policy.

There isn't one.

Individual providers each have their own. Very unlikely that the nurse's post breaches hers, but we could not know for sure without knowing where she works.

Yeah, this.

I disagree with the idiot nurse. I actually don't think she should post this sort of stuff. But that is a million miles away from believing she should be reported to her employer for doing so. Anyone who thinks we should start using TRA tactics is not my ally, no matter how GC you are.

To say that biological sex is binary and immutable?

I'm fairly sure I do understand what you are saying and I agree with you that it is important for us to be able to distinguish between sex and gender and between facts and opinions and also that whistleblowers should be protected.

I just don't agree with you that this woman has crossed any sort of a line by stating that she would rather share with a hospital ward with a TP than a Tory.

I think that people must be allowed to state both facts and opinions when debating political ideas.

Opinions are not facts. Facts are not opinions.

It's not just facts that women are being penalised for though is it?

Arguing that TW shouldn't be able to use women's toilets or changing rooms or arguing that pronouns should be sex based rather than GI based are all opinions. Women (and some men) are being seriously penalised for stating these opinions online.

As far as I am concerned this is wrong and I just don't believe the solution to is for us to adopt those same tactics which are being used to beat women into submission.

So NOONE has actually bothered to google the words

"NHS SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY" then?

Top hit:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/social-media-and-attributed-digital-content-policy/
This is dated as being last updated 2018.
I think this is the current one as its linked from this main page:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/pub-scheme/pol-proc/

This links to a document:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/social-media-policy.pdf
Document from 2013 last updated 2017.

Amongst the points it lists are the following:

• Don’t use social media in any way to attack or abuse colleagues;
• Respect your audience. Don't use personal insults, obscenities, or engage in any conduct that would not be acceptable in the workplace. You should also show proper consideration for others' privacy and for topics that may be considered objectionable or inflammatory, such as politics and religion;
• Be aware of your association with NHS England when using online social networks. If you identify yourself, or are identifiable, as an employee of the organisation, ensure your profile and related content is consistent with how you wish to present yourself to colleagues and stakeholders. Be aware that you may be identified as an employee by any public use of your NHSmail email address;
• Don't pick fights, be the first to correct your own mistakes, and don't change previous posts without indicating that you have done so;
• Don’t use social media to ‘”whistleblow” without already having raised concerns through the proper channels. All staff should be aware that the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 gives legal protection to employees who wish to whistleblow any concerns

Its in clear breach of social media policy.

There is one. It does exist. And it covers the whole NHS in England. Contrary to what numerous posters on this thread have said.

The policy states where an individual who can be identified as a person and working for the NHS should not publicly bring the profession into disrepute. Is that what I have done? Absolutely not.

Yep I did, posted upthread. Shocked that so many on here who don’t even work for the NHS think that the nurse’s post was ok and not against policy.

Agree its shocking so many people think the post is ok. It really isn't.

To doubly demonstrate the point:

Here is the RCN policy (dated 2019):
https://www.rcn.org.uk/Professional-Development/PDFs/social-media-policy

Accounts
Whether you have a personal, work or RCN account, this should be managed appropriately, with care taken to ensure the content posted is suitable for the account and complies with applicable policies.
Your privacy
Social networking platforms are in the public domain and while it is advisable to familiarise yourself and appropriately use any privacy settings it is not always possible to be sure what is being viewed, shared or archived, even if material is posted on a closed profile or group. There can be no reasonable expectation that posts will remain private and will not be passed on to other people, intentionally or otherwise. Material published online may have the potential to be available publicly, indefinitely.

Point one. This nurse has stuck it on FB. The OP hasn't identified the person involved, but could have quite easily on here. That in itself is relevant though. This nurse could have been in a LOT more shit.

Conduct
Users have the right to freedom of thought, opinion and expression and can use social media as a means of communicating these but remember that the same standard of behaviour is expected of you online as it is offline.

Consider your use of language and phrasing, and whether you would be happy for the comments, photographs or videos you have posted, commented on or shared to be seen by fellow members, colleagues, your manager, patients or members of the public.

Users should not post messages, status updates or links to material or content, which is deemed to be inappropriate by the RCN or brings your patients, profession, employer or regulator into disrepute. This content includes: pornography, racial or religious slurs, genderspecific comments, information encouraging criminal skills or terrorism or materials relating to cults, gambling or illegal drugs.

Inappropriate content or material also covers any text, images or other media that would reasonably offend someone on the basis of race, age, sex, religion or belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity or any other characteristic protected by law. If your employer has a social media policy you may want to review this to see if it provides any further guidance.

Point two. If seen by anyone who is gender critical in any way (or just is supportive of single sex accomodation for any number of reasons rather than identifies as GC) or is a Tory or has voted Tory, its problematic cos its definitely trying to offend. It is NOT raising a point on policy in any constructive way. Its just an attack and it seeks to be confrontational.

Indeed:

Trolling
Remember to remain appropriate, respectful and polite, even when disagreeing with others. You are bound to come across posts with which you don’t agree and, by the same token, may yourself post things with which others take issue. This is of course never justification for poor conduct. In internet slang terms a "troll" is a person who posts something inflammatory, digressive, extraneous or off-topic online, not to engage you in their point of view, but simply in order to provoke an emotional response.

The nurse's post meets the definition of trolling and is explicitly outlawed as such.

Its outright not acceptable.

The nurse IS in breech of NHS and RCN social media policy.

They really should be reported by someone, but I completely get why they aren't. The nurse doesn't need a disciplinary but does need a refresher in what social media policy is.

It DOES matter because it undermines trust and public confidence in the NHS and ask questions about whether all patients will be treated equally to the best professional standards. This nurse potentially wouldn't.

Complaining about the mentioned Nurse may involve her being spoken to and potentially having a polite request to take down her post, but I guarantee it will not change her views. All that will be achieved will be pissing her off and she may double down and support trans people even more, even if she can't post it on her FB.

She might support trans people even more, out of sheer divilment?
Can you actually hear yourself?

Tbf if what the OP says is true about the nurse's daughter and the nurse being a supporter of Mermaids, she isn't going to be gently persuaded of any other position anyway.

But she won't be as likely to upset others or bring the NHS /nursing into disrepute again and she may not risk losing her job.

“NHS England” is a organisation in itself and staff working within the NHS don’t (necessarily) work for “NHS England”. All a bit moot as you’ve also posted the RCN guidelines which are relevant here. Just thought I’d make the point that we still don’t know what the nurse’s employers social media policy is because we don’t know who her employer is. Within my NHS organisation, we can post whatever we like but have to state somewhere that they’re our views and not of our employer.

About 0.1% (if that) of the total NHS workforce work for NHS England.

Agree its shocking so many people think the post is ok. It really isn't.

I don’t think it’s ok. I do think you’d be a total twat to report her to her employer for it.

I also wonder what fantasy land some posters live in, if they think a regulator (the NMC in her case)is going to pull her up on it. All the regulators are totally captured. She’d probably get a pat on the back.

I don’t think it’s ok. I do think you’d be a total twat to report her to her employer for it.

Agreed.

I guess I fundamentally disagree with the idea that saying something stupid in a personal capacity on social media brings your profession into disrepute.

I believe that, as far as possible, a professional person should be as entitled as anyone else to behave like a nob once away from the workplace.

I'm sure there are grey areas and, if she was expressing such a view in the workplace or in any kind of professional capacity, then I would regard it differently. But it doesn't sound like that's the case.

Quoting NHS England policies at me does not change that view, although it might make me thankful I don't work for them.

So how come it's not ok for a nurse to post in support of trans people in her own time, but it's perfectly ok for a social worker (rachel maede) to post negatively of trans people?