Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16, whether they will issue guidance to hospital trusts to ensure patients of male biological sex are not placed in wards or facilities used by patients of female biological sex, except in emergencies; and whether they will publish this guidance within six weeks.

We have always supported the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex.

The Supreme Court ruling about the meaning of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 case has provided much needed confidence and clarity to service providers.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has already committed to publishing guidance about placing transgender patients on hospital wards in the summer.

The National Health Service is currently reviewing its Delivering same-sex accommodation guidance and will ensure it reflects the Supreme Court’s ruling and is aligned with the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s statutory guidance, when this becomes available.