In newly released guidelines, medical professionals treating transgender patients have been advised that knowing a patient's gender identity is not necessary.
Developed by experts from the universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge, this is the first guidance of its kind addressing the care of transgender individuals undergoing surgery.
One key recommendation stipulates that a patient's transgender status should only be disclosed to other medical staff and patients with the individual's consent and if it is "medically necessary."
The guidelines were created to address a "lack of knowledge and confidence among anaesthetists in caring for transgender and gender-diverse patients," according to the authors. Although neither the NHS nor the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence contributed to the development of these guidelines, hospitals may choose to adopt them locally.
Published in the journal Anaesthesia, the document outlines 15 recommendations for the care of transgender individuals before and after general surgeries, including common procedures such as hip operations or treatment for broken bones. The guidance emphasizes the use of gender-inclusive language and the patient’s preferred name and pronouns throughout their treatment. It also suggests considering single-room accommodations for transgender patients instead of placing them in a shared ward.
This recommendation aligns with proposals to update the NHS charter to ensure women have the right to single-sex wards. Changes proposed under the previous conservative government highlighted the significance of biological sex, allowing hospital patients in England to request single-sex wards, with transgender patients being offered private rooms.
Current NHS guidelines, issued in 2019, recommend that transgender patients be accommodated in wards corresponding to their gender identity unless there is a justified reason not to.
The paper highlights the absence of existing guidelines for the specific clinical care of transgender patients undergoing either elective or emergency surgery or anaesthetic care. It proposes a digital pre-assessment questionnaire where patients can privately disclose their sex at birth and current gender. Disclosure of a patient’s transgender status should only occur with their consent and if it is medically necessary.
The guidelines also suggest that medical staff should use specific educational materials to increase awareness of the issues affecting transgender patients' access to high-quality care. Additionally, pregnancy tests should be offered to all patients with a uterus and ovarian tissue aged between 12 and 55 years.
Dr Stuart Edwardson, a co-author from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, clarified that the guidelines do not exclude the terms male and female but recommend using gender-inclusive language alongside these terms. He emphasised the significance of these guidelines, given that about half of transgender and gender-diverse people are currently undergoing some form of gender affirmation treatment, with an additional 25% seeking such treatment.
Dr Edwardson stated, “This guideline is the first of its kind in perioperative practice. It aims to improve the safety and dignity of everyday healthcare for transgender and gender-diverse patients without addressing the broader legal or societal questions surrounding transgender issues.”
Developed by experts from the universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge, this is the first guidance of its kind addressing the care of transgender individuals undergoing surgery.
One key recommendation stipulates that a patient's transgender status should only be disclosed to other medical staff and patients with the individual's consent and if it is "medically necessary."
The guidelines were created to address a "lack of knowledge and confidence among anaesthetists in caring for transgender and gender-diverse patients," according to the authors. Although neither the NHS nor the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence contributed to the development of these guidelines, hospitals may choose to adopt them locally.
Published in the journal Anaesthesia, the document outlines 15 recommendations for the care of transgender individuals before and after general surgeries, including common procedures such as hip operations or treatment for broken bones. The guidance emphasizes the use of gender-inclusive language and the patient’s preferred name and pronouns throughout their treatment. It also suggests considering single-room accommodations for transgender patients instead of placing them in a shared ward.
This recommendation aligns with proposals to update the NHS charter to ensure women have the right to single-sex wards. Changes proposed under the previous conservative government highlighted the significance of biological sex, allowing hospital patients in England to request single-sex wards, with transgender patients being offered private rooms.
Current NHS guidelines, issued in 2019, recommend that transgender patients be accommodated in wards corresponding to their gender identity unless there is a justified reason not to.
The paper highlights the absence of existing guidelines for the specific clinical care of transgender patients undergoing either elective or emergency surgery or anaesthetic care. It proposes a digital pre-assessment questionnaire where patients can privately disclose their sex at birth and current gender. Disclosure of a patient’s transgender status should only occur with their consent and if it is medically necessary.
The guidelines also suggest that medical staff should use specific educational materials to increase awareness of the issues affecting transgender patients' access to high-quality care. Additionally, pregnancy tests should be offered to all patients with a uterus and ovarian tissue aged between 12 and 55 years.
Dr Stuart Edwardson, a co-author from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, clarified that the guidelines do not exclude the terms male and female but recommend using gender-inclusive language alongside these terms. He emphasised the significance of these guidelines, given that about half of transgender and gender-diverse people are currently undergoing some form of gender affirmation treatment, with an additional 25% seeking such treatment.
Dr Edwardson stated, “This guideline is the first of its kind in perioperative practice. It aims to improve the safety and dignity of everyday healthcare for transgender and gender-diverse patients without addressing the broader legal or societal questions surrounding transgender issues.”
