NHS ward guidance on trans patients
The gist
NHS England published guidance placing trans patients on wards by biological sex, not gender identity.
It applies to acute, mental health and community trusts, not A&E or paediatrics.
How it unfolded
- Apr 2025The Supreme Court ruled that under equality law "sex" means biological sex and "woman" refers to a biological woman, and that a single-sex space or service should only allow those of the same biological sex to use it.
- Jan 2026An employment tribunal found Darlington Memorial Hospital violated the dignity of a group of nurses who complained about a transgender colleague — a biological male who identified as a woman — being allowed to use the female changing rooms; the nurses were told they should change somewhere else if they objected.
- Jan 2026The employment tribunal found that sharing single-sex changing rooms with a trans colleague had created "a hostile, intimidating, humiliating and degrading environment" for nurses.