The Intensive Care Society Affirms Commitment to Inclusive, Dignified Care for All Patients

The Intensive Care Society is proud to represent a speciality of professionals who are entrusted to care for patients when they are at their most vulnerable. We will always be mindful of the magnitude of the implicit trust that is given to our teams, not just by patients, but also by those who support them. The Society believes it is our duty to actively seek to provide the best care possible to all patients. We are advocates of dignified care for all patients. That cohort of patients includes, and will always include transgender and gender diverse persons.

In the wake of the recent Supreme Court Judgement, the Society recognises the distress and sense of isolation that transgender and gender diverse people may now be feeling. Transgender people already experience considerable health inequalities: studies demonstrate both poorer access to healthcare and poorer health outcomes.

The Society acknowledges the existence of transgender and gender diverse persons. We believe they deserve dignity and psychological safety in the care they receive and that those rights should be equitable, considering their specific needs. The Society urges stakeholders, including Government, regulators and the public – to actively work now to create protective legislation and systems, in the wake of this judgement, that maintain a National Health Service that supports the needs of all the patients we care for. 

Similarly, the Society recognises the impact that this may be having on transgender and gender diverse members of our teams. Everyone deserves to feel valued, supported and safe at work. The Society will continue to champion communities which are both diverse and inclusive.

There are a number of ways to access psychological support: via your local Talking Therapies service, your Trust Occupational Health and Wellbeing, Practitioner Health (England and Scotland ) and Canopi (Wales). We also have general wellbeing resources on our Thriving at Work webpages.

ENDS

The Intensive Care Society is the largest multi-professional intensive care membership organisation in the United Kingdom.

You can find more information about the Society at: www.ics.ac.uk

Media please contact: press@ics.ac.uk