A professor slams an NHS hospital's claim that babies are 'assigned' a gender at birth – after bosses advise staff to avoid using the phrase 'born male or female' when it insults the LGBTQ+ community

One of Britain's most respected doctors has corrected hospital directors who claimed that newborns were “assigned” by: sex at birth – being told that babies were “born male or female”.

Bosses at the James Paget Hospital in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, have issued advice on the 'Dos and Don'ts of Inclusive Language' to ensure staff use LGBT+ terminology correctly.

The guidance, titled Celebrating Pride, told employees to use the phrase “assigned female/male at birth” because it more “accurately describes” what happens when a baby is born.

But Professor Karol Sikora, a leading cancer specialist and consultant oncologist, posted on X: “The NHS should not disagree with the fact that babies are born male or female – they are not 'assigned' at birth.”

Professor Sikora, who earned distinction in the field of obstetrics during his clinical practice, added: “I have given birth to several children myself and I can certainly assure you that boys or girls are being born.”

Staff were told to use the phrase “assigned female/male at birth” as it more “accurately describes” what happens when a baby is born

Hospital employees were also advised to avoid terms such as “ladies and gentlemen” and titles such as “postman”, “fireman” and “policeman”.

They were urged to avoid the terms “both sexes” and “opposite sex” and not to use the term “homosexual” because it “is often associated with a medical diagnosis or discomfort with gays/lesbians.”

Medical staff were also told to address some people with the pronouns “ze” or “zir” because these are “gender neutral and preferred by some transgender people.”

The document, which was produced by the hospital's communications department and still appears on its website, was published in 2021 and had a “review date” of June this year.

Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth, blasted the NHS Celebrating Pride document, which he described as “bonkers”, telling the Great Yarmouth Mercury: “This is astonishing 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 delivers a speech at the Reform UK 2024 conference

Hospital executives claimed that newborns are “assigned” a gender at birth – claiming babies are “born male or female.”

He added: “We are not assigned male or female at birth. At birth we are male or female.

“There are genders. We cannot be afraid to say it.

Helen Joyce, director of support at the human rights charity Sex Matters, said: “It is difficult to imagine any hospital continuing to promote trans-activist language more than two years after the then Health Secretary instructed the NHS to return to biologically accurate language. .

“It is also frankly embarrassing when a hospital – a place where medical knowledge counts – makes the absurd argument that people are “assigned” female or male at birth, rather than simply being female or male, due to material reality.

“The leadership of James Paget Hospital needs to get over it, say no to trans activist staff and return to acknowledging this accurate language about gender in health care.”

The James Paget Hospital refused to respond to Professor Sikora's comments last night.

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