The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has warned that the NHS could face enforcement action if it fails to update its policies on single-sex spaces in line with a landmark Supreme Court ruling. The court unanimously ruled that under the Equality Act, the term “woman” refers to biological sex, not gender identity.
EHRC Chairwoman Baroness Falkner stated that the NHS and other public bodies will soon receive updated guidelines, expected by summer. Currently, NHS guidance allows trans individuals to be accommodated based on their chosen name, pronouns, and appearance but this may now be revised following the court’s decision.
The ruling could impact hospital wards, changing rooms, and domestic violence shelters, ensuring that spaces designated for biological women remain exclusive. When asked if the EHRC would take action against the NHS for non-compliance, Falkner confirmed, “Yes, we will.”
An NHS spokesperson said they are reviewing same-sex accommodation policies and will consider the Supreme Court’s decision.
The case was brought by women’s rights campaigners against the Scottish government, arguing that legal protections based on sex should apply only to those born female. The court clarified that a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) does not change a person’s legal sex under the Equality Act, meaning transgender women even with a GRC cannot access women-only spaces.
For more political updates, visit London Pulse News.
