Data collection in the NHS which conflates gender and sex poses risks to health, a new government review has found. The review across a range of public bodies by Alice Sullivan, professor of sociology at University College London, found that ‘a confusion between sex and transgender and gender diverse identities’ had led date collectors to ‘merge these two things into one variable’.
In the NHS, Professor Sullivan found that ‘gender identity is consistently prioritised over or replaces sex’, posing ‘clear clinical risks’ as trans people fail to be called for cervical smears or prostate examinations. ‘This has potentially fatal consequences for trans people’’ said Prof Sullivan.
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In one case, the review identified, a child had been brought up in a gender different to its birth sex, after an intervention by their mother, leading to the creation of a new NHS number and thus medical record. ‘[The mother] had gone to the GP and requested a change of gender/NHS number when the baby was a few weeks old and the GP complied. Children’s social care did not perceive this as a child protection issue.’
Responding to the news, Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledged to ban the practice of creating a new NHS record for transgender children. ‘It’s completely wrong that children’s NHS numbers can be changed if they change gender,’ said Mr Streeting
‘We must deliver safe and holistic care for adults and children when it comes to gender, and that also means accurately recording biological sex. I have always made it clear that doing so does not stop us from recording, recognising and respecting people’s gender identity where these differ.’
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: 'There are new, serious findings in this report which the department will urgently investigate and address with the gravity they deserve, as we reform gender identity services across the board.'