NHS England interim trans policy

[Motnight]

NHS England has finally (I think yesterday) published "Interim changes to our Trans Equality Policy and Procedures". It states that "whilst we develop an updated policy, trans colleagues should use single sex facilities of their biological sex or a single lockable facility".

This seems like a big step forwards on ensuring safe spaces for biological women. I hope that I am right!

This does seem positive, but why is it interim? It is clear what they need to do to be compliant with the law.

@ItsCoolForCats totally agree. Up until a little while ago those of us in NHSE were actually having to complete online training that had incorrect legal information about the rights of trans people. So even this is positive. NHSE are obviously having to be dragged kicking and screaming into acknowledging the law.

Interesting. Do you have a link to it?

They're probably hoping that saying interim will keep the levels of wailing down , whilst they introduce a proper legal document

I don't. It's on the intranet.

Ah that's a shame. Can you screen shot it? Not doubting you I'd just like to see the whole post.

I wonder whether this will apply to patients too and single sex wards and facilities for patients.

Agree. They can then slide the new policy into existence at a quiet time when a lot of the staff (and would-be tantrummers -that's not a word, is it?) are on holiday. Simples.

Yes, that would be my question as well.

Finally a step in the right direction. Surprised they actually managed to use the word sex and not gender too.

Thanks, this is progress (and arse covering). The SC ruling is starting to slowly filter through. Legal departments are finally starting to understand the law!

NHS England is an administrative, tech, policy organisation. It doesn't treat patients.

Because it's planned to be abolished and folded into DHSC.

That may be the case, but their previous trans policy document included instructions on how to deal with both trans staff and trans patients.

Archive link:

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20251006050906/www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/delivering-same-sex-accommodation/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20251006050906/www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/delivering-same-sex-accommodation/

trans colleagues should use single sex facilities of their biological sex or a single lockable facility

Gosh, that takes a lot of thinking about - they are right to say how complex and complicated it is... I can see why it's taken so long to draft with all those subtleties.

And yet there’s no evidence that trans women are a threat to women in toilets. No one enters your toilet cubicle it gets locked, simple right? We need to go gender neutral to end this nonsense.

That's not the same policy.

Never said it was. I said NHSE policies don’t just cover staff, as you suggested, they also cover patients, as can be seen in the policy I linked above.

And yet there’s no evidence that trans women are a threat to women in toilets.

There is abundant evidence that men are a threat to women. Transwomen are men so need to keep out of the Ladies. Even if they weren't a threat they still need to keep out of the Ladies for reasons of privacy, propriety & dignity.

There is evidence of horrible assaults committed by TW in toilets. We really should avoid dishonesty when taking about this.

And it's also about dignity and privacy.

Female toilets already are for all genders, as are male toilets. They are single SEX, not gender.

Step in the right direction (who knew stating the patently bleedin' obvious would have taken a decade) but the interim bit is a bit worrying - let's give the TRAs a nice long run-up to create a big old whinge.

Regardless of whether this is true or not (spoiler alert, it isn't), the policy refers to all facilities. The trans rights brigade focus is always on toilets because it's seen as something that can be trivialised.

I honesty wouldn't engage with him

It's about safety for women and children but it's also about dignity and rights in the workplace. The law is the law. Also, single sex spaces are not just about toilets.