It starts at home: Communication makes a difference

A patient’s experience of a hospital starts before they have even left their home. That’s one of many reasons it’s important to take a whole-hospital approach to trans inclusion. A bad experience relating to a phone call, letter or email from the hospital could make them feel unable to come to their appointment.

You can get your communication right for trans people by:

  • Avoiding assumptions based on the pitch of a person’s voice on the phone
  • Making sure patient records are up to date
  • Ensuring that paperwork is inclusive, with options for non-binary people
  • Using inclusive additive language such as ‘men and anyone else with a prostate’ in literature for matters typically associated with men or women (for example in relation to pregnancy or prostate cancer)
  • Including an anti-discrimination statement prominently on your website and specifically mentioning that transphobic discrimination and harassment is not and will not be tolerated
  • Celebrating any LGBTQ+ inclusive work you’ve done and making it easy to find on your website

Errors or omissions

Is there something missing from this page? Have you spotted something that isn’t correct? E-mail info@transactual.org.uk to let us know.

A disclaimer: TransActual do not provide medical, health, or legal advice. The content of this page is intended for information purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment from a medical professional. It is not a substitute for advice from a legal professional. We strongly suggest you consult a healthcare professional or legal professional for specific advice about your situation. TransActual do not advocate or recommend the purchase of any specific product and we do not endorse or guarantee the credentials or appropriateness of any health care provider, any product or any provider of insurance and legal services.

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