The UK government, led by Health Secretary Victoria Atkins, is proposing changes to the NHS Constitution to prioritize biological sex in patient ward assignments and care settings. The proposal explicitly states that transgender women should not be placed on single-sex female wards and similarly for transgender men on male wards. Instead, transgender individuals may be accommodated in separate rooms. This initiative underscores the government’s stance on the importance of biological sex in healthcare environments, where Atkins emphasizes dignity and privacy in same-sex intimate care situations.

These changes also address terminology, advocating against the use of general terms like “service users” for specific groups such as pregnant women, and instead using language that acknowledges biological sex. The proposals include updates allowing all hospital patients in England to request treatment on single-sex wards.

The consultation process for these revisions is set to last eight weeks, with the intent to implement the changes later in the year as part of a required review of the NHS Constitution every 10 years. The updates also propose improving support for unpaid carers and offering second opinions for families during health crises.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has responded to these issues, emphasizing the need for respect and dignity in addressing transgender accommodations in hospitals and prisons. He supports the provision of separate accommodations for transgender individuals while balancing considerations for biological sex, reflecting a broader, ongoing political and social dialogue on how best to integrate respect for gender identity with logistical and ethical concerns in public health and safety.

These forthcoming changes have sparked mixed reactions. Advocates like Maya Forstater from the Sex Matters campaign group view the changes as a defense of women’s rights, while critics, including Cleo Madeleine from Gendered Intelligence and the British Medical Association, warn that the focus on biological sex could lead to increased marginalization and discrimination against transgender and non-binary individuals within the NHS. As the UK moves forward with these proposed changes, the balance between inclusivity, patient rights, and healthcare efficacy continues to be a central topic of discussion.