Fury as NHS tells its staff that women are ‘transphobic’ if they do not want not to share a bathroom with a transgender colleague

Women are ‘transphobic’ if they don’t want to share the bathroom with a transgender colleague, NHS workers have been told.

Mandatory training introduced in August for NHS England workers also claimed that ‘people’ rather than women or mothers are becoming pregnant and taking maternity leave.

Another passage suggested that it is discriminatory for nurses or doctors to pray for sick patients.

Women’s rights campaigners wrote to Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS, to criticize the “partisan and ideological” training and demand it be updated 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Last night, after being contacted by the Mail, the NHS admitted that it has since withdrawn the training module and that it will be replaced ‘in the coming weeks’.

Women’s rights campaigners wrote to Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS, to criticize the ‘partisan and ideological’ training. Pictured: Secretary Wes Streeting (left) with Amanda Pritchard, head of NHS England, during a visit to the Abbey Medical Centre, London

The 23-page document – titled ‘Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Human Rights Skills’ – stated that ‘all staff, including off-payroll employees, are required to complete the modules’.

The training manual, which contained five ‘case studies’, required staff to answer ten multiple-choice questions to test whether they were discriminatory.

In a section entitled ‘transphobic colleague’ an example is given of an NHS worker who does not want to share a bathroom with a trans person.

The document states that this is ‘not acceptable’ and that asking whether transgender people can use gender-neutral or disabled toilets instead could constitute ‘illegal harassment’.

It adds: ‘It is always an individual’s choice to use the facilities that correspond to how they identify themselves.’

The document was shared with the Mail by an NHS worker who had concerns about the training but said they were under pressure from bosses to complete it.

The whistleblower revealed: ‘Completing this training is required to progress in your salary and career, and ultimately even employment with NHS England.

Mandatory training introduced in August for NHS England workers also claimed that ‘people’ rather than women or mothers are becoming pregnant and taking maternity leave. Pictured: Trafalgar Square during the Gay Pride Parade on July 1

‘Despite all the supposed commitment to “diversity”, if you disagree with the ideology of a dominant clique, you have to lie or leave.’

In another part of the document, ‘pregnancy and maternity’ is included in a list of protected characteristics, but the words woman or mother are not used.

It says: ‘People are protected against discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy and maternity during the period of their pregnancy and any statutory maternity leave.’

Meanwhile, in another ‘case study’, 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 well-being and wanted her to get better’.

NHS staff are 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 stated that by promoting ‘equality and diversity’ the NHS will ‘deliver significant benefits for the workforce, the wider NHS and the populations we serve’, adding: ‘Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of NHS England’s values.’

It comes as the health service faces a number of employment tribunals from current or former employees over its gender policies.

This includes a group of female nurses in Darlington making 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’ – stated that ‘all staff, including off-payroll employees, 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 organization Sex Matters, said: ‘The training on sex, gender reassignment and discrimination on the grounds of religion is contrary to, and in some places actively contradicts, the law.

‘It is partisan and ideological, and it puts the NHSE at risk of mass discrimination and harassment.

‘We call on you to recall and review the training to ensure it is compliant with the law and with 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, but would not say when. The training will be updated in the coming weeks, the company said.

A spokesperson added: ‘These guidelines are out of date and have already been removed as new training is developed. We are determined that all women who work and receive care in the NHS are treated with dignity and respect.”