1,200 doctors, nurses and health workers write to NHS bosses to demand the word ‘woman’ be reinstated on web pages about cancer and pregnancy amid claims it is ‘discriminatory’
- This includes guidance pages on ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and menopause
- In the letter, staff said the ‘discriminatory’ change ‘harms women’
NHS staff have demanded that the service reinstate the word ‘woman’ on its cancer and pregnancy website pages.
More than 1,000 health department employees called for the change, as at least 19 women’s health pages on the website do not contain the term “woman” or, if used, be accompanied by inclusive language.
This includes guidance pages on ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, menopause, childbirth and heavy periods, according to the Daily Telegraph.
1,200 NHS doctors, nurses and health workers have written to their bosses and four chief nurses in the UK to raise the issue of the ‘discriminatory’ change ‘harming women’.
The letter, that was revealed to the Daily Telegraphsaid: ‘Removing language based on gender is discriminatory and could expose the NHS to legal challenges.
More than 1,000 health department employees called for the opportunity, as at least 19 women’s health pages on the website do not feature the term “woman” or if used, it is accompanied by inclusive language
1,200 NHS doctors, nurses and health workers have written to their bosses and four UK chief nurses to raise the issue of the ‘discriminatory’ change ‘harming women’
“We advocate for the restoration of sex-based, respectful communication that meets women’s health needs.
‘In particular, the NHS should use women’s words for women’s bodies and women’s health problems.
‘NHS.UK health messages show a lack of care for women, are disrespectful and offend women.’
The Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender wrote the letter after noting that many NHS.UK webpages had started using terms such as ‘you’, ‘people’ or ‘person’.
The NHS guidelines page on miscarriages previously read ‘for most women a miscarriage is a once in a lifetime event and they will have a successful pregnancy in the future’ now it has changed to ‘most people’.
Signatories to the letter include four ex-NHS trust managers, Maura Buchanan, a former president of the Royal College of Nursing, and two colleagues.
