Women are “transphobic” if they do not want to share a bathroom with a transgender colleague, NHS staff have been told.
Mandatory training introduced in August for NHS England employees also stated that “people”, not women or mothers, become pregnant and take maternity leave.
Another passage suggested that it is discriminatory for nurses or doctors to pray for sick patients.
Women’s rights campaigners wrote to NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard to criticize the “partisan and ideological” line-up and demand it be changed earlier this month.
Last night, after being contacted by the Mail, the NHS admitted that it has since withdrawn the training module and that it will be replaced “in the coming weeks”.
NHS staff have been told women are “transphobic” if they don’t want to share a bathroom with a transgender colleague (file image)
Women’s rights campaigners wrote to NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard to criticize the “partisan and ideological” formation. Pictured: Secretary Wes Streeting (left) with NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard during a visit to Abbey Medical Center in London.
The 23-page document, titled “Equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights competencies,” states that “all staff, including unpaid workers, are required to complete the modules.”
The training manual, which included five “case studies,” required staff to answer ten multiple-choice questions to test whether they were discriminatory.
In a section titled “transphobic colleague”, an example is given of an NHS staff member who does not wish to share a bathroom with a trans person.
The document states that this is “not acceptable” and that asking whether trans staff can use neutral or disabled toilets could constitute “unlawful harassment”.
He adds: “It is always the individual’s choice to use the facilities that match their identification.”
The document was shared with the Mail by an NHS worker concerned about the training but who said they were under pressure from bosses to complete it.
The whistleblower revealed: “Passing this training is necessary in order to progress your salary and career and ultimately even to become an employee of NHS England.”
Mandatory training introduced in August for NHS England employees also stated that “people”, not women or mothers, become pregnant and take maternity leave. Pictured: Trafalgar Square during the Gay Pride Parade on July 1
“Despite all the supposed commitment to ‘diversity’, if you don’t agree with the ideology of a dominant clique, you have to lie or leave.”
In another section of the document it includes ‘pregnancy and motherhood’ among a list of protected characteristics, but omits the words woman or mother.
It says: “Individuals are protected from discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy and maternity during the period of pregnancy and any statutory maternity leave.”
Meanwhile, in another of the “case studies”, NHS staff are given a real-life example of a community nurse who offered to pray for a sick patient because they were “concerned about her wellbeing and wanted her to get better”.
NHS employees were told this was unacceptable and the nurse was reprimanded for failing to demonstrate a “personal and professional commitment to equality and diversity” by expressing her faith.
The document further said that by promoting “equality and diversity”, the NHS “will bring great benefits to the workforce, the wider NHS and the population we serve”, adding: “The promotion of equality, Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of NHS England’s values.’
It comes as the health service faces a series of employment tribunals from current or former employees over its gender policies.
This includes a group of nurses in Darlington who are bringing a sex discrimination claim against County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust after they were allegedly forced to share the women’s changing room with a trans nurse.
The NHS admitted it has withdrawn the training module and it will be replaced. The 23-page document, titled ‘Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Human Rights Skills’, states that ‘all staff, including unpaid workers, are required to complete the modules’ (file image)
Women’s rights campaigners wrote to NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard on October 7 to criticize the training and demand it be urgently reviewed.
In the letter seen by the Mail, Maya Forstater, chief executive of human rights charity Sex Matters, said: “Training on sex, gender reassignment and belief discrimination conflicts with the law and in some places it actively contradicts it.”
‘It is partisan and ideological, and puts NHSE at risk of massive discrimination and harassment.
“We ask that you withdraw and review the training to ensure it complies with the law and your responsibilities under the public sector equality duty and the Human Rights Act.”
Last night the NHS admitted it had removed the training module since receiving this letter, although it did not say when. The training will be updated in the coming weeks, he said.
A spokesperson added: ‘This guidance is out of date and has already been removed as new training is developed. “We are determined that all women working and receiving care in the NHS are treated with dignity and respect.”