No Scottish Health Boards Have Single-Sex Facilities Policies Following Supreme Court Ruling

A recent UK Supreme Court ruling clarified that 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer specifically to biological sex, leading to significant implications for NHS policies regarding transgender individuals and single-sex spaces. The head of the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission stated that, in light of the judgment, the NHS and other public bodies must update their guidance and can no longer accommodate transgender women in female-only wards, toilets, or changing rooms based solely on gender identity. The ruling allows organizations to provide third, unisex spaces but asserts that single-sex spaces must be restricted by biological sex. Investigations have revealed that none of Scotland's 14 health boards currently have policies on single-sex facilities, drawing criticism and demands for immediate action from campaigners and politicians who argue this lack of policy denies women their legal rights to privacy and safety. NHS health boards have responded that they will review and potentially update their policies to comply with the new legal framework. The decision has sparked debate over balancing trans rights and legal protections for single-sex spaces, with calls for clearer national guidance.