Renowned Medical Practitioners at Great Ormond Street ‘s Hospital are ‘told not to use gendered language including boys, girls, ladies, gents and dudes when talking to fellow staff’

Gender-Neutral Language Guidance at Great Ormond Street Hospital

Encouraging Gender-Neutral Language Doctors at the renowned Great Ormond Street Hospital have received guidance discouraging the use of gendered language when addressing fellow staff. The guidance, titled ‘Using Pronouns at GOSH,’ was published on the hospital’s official intranet site. It encourages staff to utilize more gender-neutral terms like ‘team,’ ‘all,’ or ‘everyone’ when communicating with colleagues.

Warning Against Deliberate Misgendering The guidance also warns doctors that deliberately misgendering a colleague could be considered a form of ‘harassment.’ Staff members are encouraged to take the time to understand others’ pronouns and learn how to be allies in promoting gender inclusivity.

Not Official Hospital Policy It’s important to note that the guidance, authored by members of GOSH’s LGBTQ+ community, is not an official hospital policy. However, employees are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the document and its recommendations.

Context and Background This development follows earlier concerns regarding gender-neutral language in healthcare settings. Health Secretary Steve Barclay ordered an investigation into taxpayer-funded guidelines instructing NHS staff to treat all patients as gender-neutral. These guidelines discouraged the use of gendered titles like ‘Mr.’ or ‘Mrs.’ until a patient had confirmed their gender identity, even if they were regular patients. The Department of Health expressed concerns about potential unintended health consequences.

Hospital’s Commitment to Inclusivity Great Ormond Street Hospital emphasizes its commitment to creating an inclusive work environment where all staff members feel respected for who they are and the work they do. Any form of discrimination based on protected characteristics, such as race, gender, or sexuality, is addressed through the hospital’s official Dignity at Work policy.

Children and Young People’s Gender Service The hospital is also establishing a children and young people’s gender service in collaboration with Evelina London Children’s Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. This service aligns with the recommendations of the Cass Review and the latest clinical evidence and aims to address the growing waiting list of young people in need of care.

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