WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has written to the Government calling for swift action to ensure local county hospitals review their policy on single-sex wards.
The MP questioned Women and Equalities Minister on the policy published by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust which means in-patients are allocated to a ward based on their ‘sense of their gender’ rather than their biology.
The Supreme Court ruled on a case last week which concluded that the definition of a woman in the Equality Act should be based on biological sex.
Campaign group, For Women Scotland brought forward the case against the Scottish Government to argue that sex-based protections should apply only to those born biologically female.
The group’s appeal asked judges to rule on whether a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) which states a person’s gender is female brings them within the Equality Act 2010’s definition of a ‘woman’.
Five judges from the UK supreme court ruled unanimously that the legal definition of a woman does not include transgender women with a GRC.
Lord Hodge told the court the Equality Act (EA) was very clear that its provisions dealt with biological sex at birth, and not with a person’s acquired gender, regardless of a GRC.
Dame Harriett said: “I was quite surprised to read the Worcestershire Acute Hospital approach to deciding where to put patients in single sex wards.
“I call on them to revise their policy immediately in light of the supreme court judgment. I know that there are many constituents who have raised this with me.
“I’m hoping our local NHS Trust will now move swiftly to respect the court and make sure the right care is offered to all patients in the right places.”
The Government has now instructed NHS England to issue guidance to NHS Trusts on how it should amend its policies to reflect the court judgment.
Stephen Collman, acting chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust said: “I would like to reassure all our patients, visitors and staff that we remain absolutely committed to being an inclusive, welcoming organisation for everyone.
“We are expecting national guidance for the NHS to follow the Supreme Court judgement but in the meantime, we have also set up our own working group to commence a review of Trust policies.
“A small, representative working group will work to ensure our systems and processes enable practical and compassionate decision-making regarding support for any patients, visitors or staff who may be impacted by changes to policy.”
Despite the ruling, transgender rights campaigners urged trans people and their support to remain calm about the decision.
The group Scottish Trans said on social media: “We’d urge people not to panic – there will be lots of commentary coming out quickly that is likely to deliberately overstate the impact that this decision is going to have on all trans people’s lives.
“We’ll say more as soon as we’re able to. Please look out for yourselves and each other today.”
Judge Lord Hodge did also stress that the ruling does not strip away protections against discrimination for transgender people.
