Ambulance staff network says it is ‘disappointed’ in Supreme Court woman definition ruling

The bulletin, seen exclusively by GB News, concedes that judges explained how trans people are still protected from discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.

But it went on to say that “simply by passing this ruling it becomes more difficult to enforce these protections due to the changed legal definition”.

The reaction came after judges in Britain's most senior court unanimously ruled that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 referred to sex not gender.

The staff bulletin also included a signature from the trust’ women’s network and a formal signature from the overall trust.

The trust said: “Now more than ever, trans people need great allies.”

It added: “And remember, transition is more than just a medical process, for some people, it is not medical at all.”

Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at human rights charity Sex Matters, said: “That South Western Ambulance’s LGBT+ staff network feels entitled to publish a statement like this shows just how deeply embedded gender ideology has become within the NHS.

“Overreach by networks like this has played a big part in many bad organisational policies that fail women.

“The Supreme Court ruling is about protecting women’s rights, and about the importance of recognising the material reality of the two sexes in many areas of life – such as healthcare. Yet this ideological and alarmist statement ignores all that, and instead focuses entirely on the feelings of trans people.

“It’s also grossly irresponsible for any group within the NHS to recommend a charity that rejects the findings of the Cass Review and promotes puberty blockers for children, despite the health secretary, Wes Streeting, halting their use because of mounting evidence they may cause serious harm."

The trust's statement also refers staff "affected by this ruling" to several organisations, including the trans youth charity Mermaids, which a Charity Commission inquiry last year revealed was not governed to sufficient standards.

The charity was forced to remove misinformation about puberty blockers by the watchdog last October.

The Telegraph reported at the time that Mermaids had been ordered to drop statements from its website about puberty blockers being “an internationally recognised safe, reversible healthcare option”.

The inquiry also highlighted other controversies, including the promotion of chest binders to children, which the newspaper revealed in 2022.

At the time, Kathryn Downs, Mermaids’ chairman of trustees, said the Charity Commission probe had “confirmed, as we have repeatedly asserted, that we have not provided medical advice or acted improperly in our work with children, young people and their families.”

Downs added: “The trustees accepted that governance didn’t keep pace with the charity’s rapid growth linked to rising support needs from trans young people and their families.

“These historic governance issues were addressed through the implementation of the recommendations of two independent reviews, proactively commissioned by our trustees, into EDI and governance. The board also strengthened due diligence processes for trustee recruitment.”

A spokesman for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), said: “The staff-led LGBT+ Staff Network wanted to show its support to members, which includes trans colleagues, that it was disappointed by the ruling.

“Our staff Bulletin often includes opinions from staff, on matters that are important to them. As a Trust, we are committed to ensuring all our colleagues and patients feel safe, seen and heard.”