What my NHS Trust have said about the Supreme Court verdict

[Opinionpolecat]

The NHS Trust I work at sent an e-mail to all staff yesterday talking about the Supreme Court ruling. They stated that the judges have said that “woman” in UK law is based on biological sex. They go on to say that they want to be clear the ruling does not change the fact that everyone is welcome in the Trust and that they are an inclusive organisation. They say everyone deserves respect and understanding including staff, patients and families. They understand that some staff members may feel they need support at this time and recommend the LGBT+ staff network where LGBT+ staff and allies can find support and advice.

It struck me that they think only LGBT+ plus staff and allies will need support and advice, and the reassurance that the trust is such an inclusive organisation. They say nothing about the fact their policies have discriminated against female staff and patients for many years. They don't even admit to it but say this wasn't their fault, it was due to NHS wide guidance and they offer no apology to female staff, patients and their allies about these years of discrimination. They say nothing about the fact that for many years some female staff and patients may not have felt welcome or included within the Trust. Have any other NHS staff had similar messages?

I’ve been on leave since Wednesday and not back til next Thursday so not had a chance to check. I’ll look and upload as soon as I get a chance.

As it happens I took a patient back to one of the wards last Tuesday (I’m not ward based) and wanted to wash my hands before leaving the ward. No basin at the nursing station. I whinged about it to one of the nurses as most of the wards do have a central wash basin, and the nurse directed me to the staff changing room, using the key pad to let me in. I still wasn’t happy as I had to use the sink in the single loo, I always wash my hands a second time after using a work loo. Anyway point is it was a single changing/locker room with one loo for all staff. I know that theatres have separate male/female changing rooms as does my own dept. But I’m aware many/most (maybe all) wards do not.
So when I got home I sent and FOI request asking for confirmation of single sex changing facilities with a breakdown by department specifying theatres, my own dept, wards and a newly built building and any other areas where clinical staff need changing facilities.

Getting popcorn in for the reply.

Can I suggest others who are checking responses to the court ruling also send FOIs to ask about changing facilities? I’m sure my trust isn’t alone on this and anyway it will add pressure and make them nervous (hopefully).

Also this may not be the thread to post this on but there are so many and I’m not keeping up.

Has anyone heard from the NMC?

This midwifery professor who posts profusely on TikTok is feigning faux confusion regarding her sex post the ruling. Now she is on the disciplinary board at the NMC. Jennifer Melle, who has been reported to the NMC by Helen Webberley could find herself up against this midwife As could Sandy Peggie if she was reported.

I feel the midwife is the person who needs reporting.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdYLTE9b/

’I used to be able define myself’ How ridiculous and intensely irritating.
very narcissistic.

Yes, removing the burden of the heavy yoke which was increasingly crushing women’s rights is certainly a release. It’s a win for women when their rights are upheld by the SC. That was the problem, wasn’t it? Men felt quite entitled (with society’s collusion in pandering to them) to encroach and try to frame women having rights as being ‘unkind’ .

I thought it was helpfully pointed out that people who claim to be another sex have their own separate protection - the GRA. Whilst also retaining rights pertaining to their real and immutable biological sex. Why did (and do) men feel as if they have a right to obstruct the women’s rights lane? Eroding, and watering down the sex based rights of women and girls. As if women and girls were not entitled to full and equal rights because of their biological sex.

I’ll say that the British judicial system is proving itself to be fairly good in preserving the rights of women and girls. Although trying to remedy each discriminatory situation depends on women having to organise to fight, and fund, any pursuit in defence of their rights. Maybe the government and organs of state might try and uphold women’s right to equal protection and justice next time. Instead of dick pandering at the expense of women and girls. It’s the b**dy law that women shouldn’t be discriminated against like this.

I think women in many countries around the world wish they had something as solid as the British judicial system to appeal to, as their rights are being dismissed left, right, and centre.

Because in their deluded minds they are a better class of woman. They are doing 'womaning' right because all we are are a big pair of tits and a short skirt. they think men will be driven wild with desire.

She’s a self absorbed nitwit. And I knew who it would be before I opened the link!

We all know if the ruling had gone the other way they would have offered us support.

@Micaela64
The outcome of the ruling is a win for TERFs who won't have to be in the same spaces as trans women anymore who they seemingly think are all desperate to have sex with them

No sweetie, we just think they're men and don't want them in our spaces for exactly the same reasons as for other men.

I suspect some committed trusts may attempt to get around the ruling by providing only universal mixed sex spaces with full length doors. Sarah Montague, on Radio 4 yesterday suggested that all spaces could be named 'gendered' spaces rather than sex based spaces, for example, to get around the 'problem'.

They can't. They have to provide single sex spaces by law. Gender does not exist as a protected characteristic.

Lord Sumtion(sp) explained this yesterday on R4’s PM. He said in the Equality Act there is an assumption that women (biological ones) are entitled to feel safe and they may not feel safe changing in the same room as biological men. He gave the example of the NHS nurses who should legally be provided with single sex changing rooms to ensure dignity and safety.

That’s so good to know @LizzieSiddal my trust is absolutely captured including the women’s leadership team.

I believe the Darlington nurses have set up a union for women. It would be great if as many women as possible joined it.

Unless they are completely bonkers the Darlington Trust must surely back down and settle now as they have no legal defence.
Since they declared one of the nurse needed “re-educating” I really hope the nurses demand re-education of named people who work for the Trust in order to drop their action!

Hi everyone - well done - I passed your letters on to the Telegraph journalist who said "I think the staff's concerns and immediate reaction of the hospitals is a really strong story which I'll try for now"

If anyone wants to add their letters and opinions anonymously then please do so here on this link:
https://form.jotform.com/251073597264361

Well done for helping to raise awareness

I think the point is that because gender is not a pc it isn’t illegal to discriminate on that basis.

However health and safety at work legislation still mandates single sex toilet and changing room provision, and absence of sex based provision is potentially indirect discrimination.

Regarding women as unimportant is baked in. Every N.H.S. Trust in the whole of London puts men on women's wards.

Thanks so much to all those who contributed your letters. You made the Telegraph!

ETA: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/6364af7dc0f10eaf

Together we can make a difference and I think that your personal stories, as NHS workers, about how this has impacted you are so compelling.

i just found this podcast and what the women say happened to them is upsetting but powerful. I hope it’s not been as bad for all of you xx

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/inciteful-sisters/id1802508941?i=1000704330320

Thank you!!

And a share token here too:

www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/6364af7dc0f10eaf

I haven't RTFT but WTAF are these organisations doing doubling down?

The arrogance alongside the disregard for women is outrageous. Public organisations! Public money! OUR money! How dare they?

@RedToothBrush "dick pandering" is such an excellent description. That's what all these organisations have been doing.

This is incredible - well done all!

I wish they'd all use that. But I won't hold my breath, I'll just keep contributing to legal cases as they arise.

I doubt it! I was just reading through NHS Resolution's "Saying Sorry" which I know is aimed more at patient complaints but even still within the BY A saying sorry doesn't mean you are admitting any wrong doing so I can't see why they didn't take the opportunity to apologise to EVERYone.

https://resolution.nhs.uk/resources/saying-sorry/

I came back to work today after a week’s leave and was braced for an email. There has been nothing. Also nothing in either of the two Trust-wide briefings we get each week. Lots of other stuff covered but nothing about this at all. A wow in its own way.

I’m not as sure as you, Boiley.

Part of the thinking behind the Duty of Candour policy is that people are less likely to pursue clinical negligence claims when they have a full, human, relational apology from those involved in their care. I’d say this would include care that falls below the required standard.

If I were in charge of the NHS, I would issue a public and full apology to all women who may have been affected by being placed in intimate and non single sex care situations. Toilets, wards, physical examinations etc. Many women have experienced trauma at the hands of men. Simply being forced into such vulnerable situations (sharing a bedroom!) could have re traumatised them. Even women who haven’t experienced overt trauma could feel frightened. From a legal perspective, a public apology might do much to dampen an influx of complaints about having been subjected to unlawful mixed sex spaces when so vulnerable. But then, I am not in charge of the NHS.