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One of Britain's most respected doctors has corrected hospital bosses who claimed newborns were “assigned” to a gender at birth – telling them that babies are “born as male or female”.
Bosses at James Paget Hospital in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, have issued advice on “inclusive language do’s and don’ts” to ensure staff correctly use LGBT+ terminology.
In guidance titled Celebrating Pride, they told employees to use the phrase “assigned male/female at birth” as this “more accurately portrays” what happens when a child is born.
But Professor Karol Sikora, a leading cancer specialist and consultant oncologist, posted on X: 'The National Health Service should not be at odds with whether babies are born as male or female – they are not “assigned” at birth. '
Professor Sikora, who gained distinction in obstetrics during his clinical training, added: “Having given birth to several babies myself, I can assure you that they arrive either male or female.”
Bosses at James Paget Hospital in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, have issued advice on “inclusive language of what to do and what not to do” to ensure staff use the correct LGBT+ terminology
Staff have been instructed to use the phrase 'assigned female/male at birth' as this 'more accurately portrays' what happens when a child is born
Hospital staff were also told to avoid terms such as “ladies and gentlemen”, as well as titles such as “postman”, “firefighter” and “police officer”.
They were urged to move away from “both genders” and “opposite sexes” – and not to use the term “homosexual”, as it “often connotes a medical diagnosis or discomfort with gay/lesbian people”.
Medical staff were also instructed to refer to certain people using the pronouns 'ze' or 'zir' because they are 'gender-neutral and preferred by some trans people'.
The document, which was produced by the hospital's communications department and is still on its website, was published in 2021 and had a 'revision date' in June of this year.
Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth, exposed the NHS's Celebrating Pride document, which he described as “crazy”, telling the Great Yarmouth Mercury: “It's surprising that the guidance from a hospital, which is full of doctors and nurses who have spent years studying , doesn't seem to know what happens when a baby is born.'
Rupert Lowe MP speaking at the Reform UK 2024 party conference
Hospital bosses have claimed that newborns were “assigned” a gender at birth – saying babies are “born as male or female”.
He added: 'We are not 'assigned' male or female at birth. We are male or female at birth.
'There are sexes. We shouldn't be afraid to say this.
Helen Joyce, advocacy director at human rights charity Sex Matters, said: 'It is difficult to imagine that any hospital is still promoting trans-activist language more than two years after the then health secretary instructed the NHS to return to a language biologically accurate. .
“It is also frankly embarrassing to see a hospital – a place where medical knowledge is important – present the ridiculous argument that people are “assigned” female or male at birth, rather than simply being female or male, for the sake of material reality.
“James Paget Hospital leadership needs to get a grip, say no to its trans-activist staff and re-recognize that accurate language about both sexes is important in healthcare.”
James Paget Hospital refused to respond to Professor Sikora's comments last night.
