Reinstate the word ‘woman’, NHS staff urge

THE NHS must reinstate the word “woman” in its cancer and pregnancy web pages, more than 1,000 health service staff have demanded.

At least 19 female health pages on the NHS website fail to mention women either at all or in addition to inclusive language, including for guidance on ovarian and uterus cancer, menopause, childbirth and heavy periods.

Some 1,200 NHS doctors, nurses and health practitioners have written to NHS bosses and all four of the UK’S chief nursing officers to condemn the “discriminatory” move “which harms women”.

The Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender, a group of NHS staff, organised the letter after noticing that many NHS.UK web pages had begun shifting to gender-neutral language since 2021, using terms such as “you”, “people” or “person” when talking of ovarian cancer, pregnancy, the menopause and other female related issues.

The clinicians’ letter, seen by The Daily Telegraph, says: “Removal of sexbased language is discriminatory ... the NHS must use women’s words for women’s bodies and women’s health problems ... NHS.UK healthcare messaging shows a lack of concern for women, is disrespectful and insults women.”

The letter’s signatories include four EX-NHS trust executives, Maura Buchanan, a former Royal College of Nursing president and two peers.