- Conference
- 2007 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 10 December 2006
- Decision
- Carried
Conference welcomes the initial work on gender identity undertaken by the Department of Health’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group (SOGIAG) and the NHS Scotland LGBT Health Inclusion Project.
Conference welcomes the increased profile of transgender issues but notes that trans people still face considerable hurdles accessing healthcare and the NHS does not yet fully recognise the needs of trans employees undergoing gender reassignment.
Conference acknowledges the need for training and education in the healthcare setting to support provision of inclusive services for service users undergoing or preparing for gender reassignment and adequate guidelines to ensure equality in employment.
Conference welcomes the UNISON guidance ‘Bargaining for transgender workers rights’. Issues covered include:
1.The need for confidentiality for the staff member concerned;
2.The need to support the member of staff undergoing gender reassignment in making arrangements for their life experience and in giving time off work for medical appointments;
3.The need to recognise the member of staff in their acquired gender;
4.The need for protection from harassment on grounds of gender identity, including from service users;
5.Recognition that not all transgender staff may wish to undergo gender reassignment or apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate.
Conference further welcomes the practice guidelines produced by Press for Change.
Conference calls on the Service Group Executive to work in conjunction with UNISON’s LGBT Committee and organisations such as Press for Change to:
A. Disseminate these guidelines widely to promote best practice and raise awareness of issues faced by transgender people in the NHS;
B. Support the work of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group (SOGIAG) in promoting wider awareness of trans issues within the NHS;
C. Encourage branches to raise the issues of gender identity, gender reassignment and Gender Recognition with employers at local level and negotiate equality policies;
D. Working with the Nursing Sector to develop and raise awareness of best practice issues in providing nursing care to trans people.