New NHS policy requires trans people to use single sex spaces that align with their sex registered at birth, unless this goes against their ‘clinical needs’. 

NHS England’s own internal assessment found that this could expose trans patients to “a number of potential adverse impacts”. These include fear and experience of discrimination, being ‘outed’, delays and greater risk of ‘corridor care’. 

These impacts alone would be bad enough. However, the policy is likely to have negative impacts far beyond the boundary of the hospital ward. The report also found the policy could lead to trans people “avoiding accessing healthcare at all”, meaning that people who need hospital treatment may stay away. 

This is particularly dangerous when it comes to cancer care. Early detection and treatment can drastically improve outcomes for people with cancer, including longer survival times. The NHS has spent years trying to increase cancer screening uptake in the trans community, build trust, and improve our outcomes and experiences. If trans patients are exposed to risks identified in this NHS report, then all this hard-won progress could be lost. 

Nobody should have to choose between cancer care, and their safety, privacy, and dignity. The NHS has a moral and legal obligation to ensure that this is not the choice trans people face whenever they go to hospital. 

To cancer professionals, we ask you to stand up for trans patients, now more than ever. Work with your team to identify the risks that the new guidance could pose to trans people in your service, and take all reasonable steps to mitigate this. 

To patients, remember that you have the same right to safety, privacy, and dignity as anyone else. The guidance makes clear that “clinical need” should always be the priority for staff when allocating beds. If you are worried that your needs won’t be/aren’t being met, then do not be afraid to speak to the team looking after you or report it to the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).