AIMS recognises the discrimination and harassment that trans and non-binary (TNB) people may experience either as staff or as users of the maternity services. We welcome the NHS Confederation’s decision to publish guidance on Supporting trans and non-binary healthcare staff and hope that its adoption by providers of maternity services will lead to greater understanding of and respect for the needs of TNB maternity service users as well as staff.
However, support for TNB staff should not mean ignoring a woman’s right to decide who may see or touch her body.
AIMS is calling on the NHS Confederation to review this section of their guidance ensuring that all stakeholders have a chance to comment, and that full weight is given to the patients’ perspective.
Read AIMS open letter to the NHS Confederation here
We hope that this page is of interest, especially to our colleagues in the maternity services improvement community.
The AIMS Campaigns Team relies on Volunteers to carry out its work. If you would like to collaborate with us, are looking for further information about our work, or would like to join our team, please email campaigns@aims.org.uk.
You are welcome to quote from or link to this article in your own work to improve maternity services but please credit AIMS as the source. If you are using a quote please include the following words: “Quote from the AIMS article {URL}. AIMS is a charity that works towards better births for all by campaigning and information sharing, protecting human rights in childbirth and helping maternity service users to know their rights, whatever birth they want, and wherever they want it. See www.aims.org.uk
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