Labour’s Wes Streeting backs separate hospital wards for trans patients
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Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has expressed his support for treating trans people in separate wards in hospitals, claiming that it would help protect the “integrity” of single-sex wards. Streeting made this remark during an interview with Sky News, where he discussed a report about cases of sexual abuse on mixed-sex hospital wards.
While research from 2023 suggests that mixed-sex wards do pose a significantly higher risk of danger for patients, there is no evidence to suggest that the presence of trans patients in any ward is linked to the number of assaults. Despite this, Streeting accused former health secretary Steve Barclay of turning trans people into “scapegoats” after Barclay stated he wanted to ban trans women from female hospital wards last year.
However, Streeting himself expressed support for housing trans people in separate wards, rather than in wards that correspond with their gender identity. He claimed that having single-sex wards, including suitable and safe accommodation for trans people, would be the right and appropriate way forward.
When asked to clarify whether he meant trans people should be housed separately or whether the ward they are placed on should be determined by their sex or gender identity, Streeting replied that single-sex wards would protect the dignity and respect of trans people while maintaining the integrity of single-sex spaces.
Streeting emphasized the importance of patient safety and highlighted the fact that single-sex spaces are safer and make people, particularly women, feel more comfortable and safe. However, a 2022 study revealed that there had been no complaints from patients about being treated in the same hospital ward as a trans woman.
In October, the then health secretary Steve Barclay stated that banning trans women from female hospital wards would be “common sense.” This announcement was supported by Suella Braverman, the home secretary at the time, who said that trans women have “no place in women’s wards” and should be excluded from “any safe space relating to biological women.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer has remained relatively quiet on the issue since Barclay’s announcement. In April last year, Starmer expressed his support for single-sex wards but also stated that womanhood was “completely biological” for “99.9 per cent of women.”
Tory MP Caroline Nokes criticized Braverman’s anti-trans comments, stating that the Gender Recognition Act is there to protect trans people and give them rights. She expressed concern that forcing a woman with a Gender Recognition Certificate into a male ward undermines the principle behind the GRA and leads to confusion and fear.
It is essential to have a balanced and inclusive approach when discussing the treatment of trans people in hospitals. While ensuring patient safety is paramount, it is crucial not to discriminate against any group based on their gender identity. It is essential for policymakers to consider the needs and rights of trans individuals while maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all patients.
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