NHS bosses tell 999 operators to avoid calling people ‘sir’ or ‘madam’ in case it upsets trans patients
NHS bosses have told 999 operators to avoid calling people “sir” or “madam” in case they upset trans patients.
Emergency callers will instead be asked for their preferred pronouns, which critics said was “ludicrous”.
Ambulance chiefs issued guidance amid fears handlers could get a trans caller’s gender wrong based on how they sounded.
South Central Ambulance Service, including Berks and Bucks, told staff: “Irrespective of the tone of a person’s voice, we should not assume gender, or reference a patient by assumed gender (Sir or Madam).”
South East Coast Ambulance Service, which covers Kent, Surrey and Sussex, advised handlers: “Inappropriate pronouns cause stress and may make an already difficult situation worse.”
Guidance from Newcastle-based North East Ambulance Service stated: “Asking someone’s pronouns is a non-intrusive way to determine gender.’
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But Lottie Moore, of the Policy Exchange think-tank, said: “To expect anyone to be thinking of preferred pronouns in a 999 health emergency is ludicrous.”
South East Coast insisted: “It will not delay our response, and is about ensuring we respect people’s personal pronouns.”
South Central claimed it treated patients “with dignity, respect, empathy and without judgment”.
North East said it could be “appropriate and necessary” to ask a patient’s gender identity.
