Hundreds of transgender hospital patients have been recorded as female in NHS records despite having health problems that only affect biological males, a new analysis has revealed.
Data from hospitals in England and Wales suggests 482 patients were registered as female despite being admitted for problems related to the prostate, testicles or penis in the year to March.
The figures came from analysis of hospital admissions data, highlighting cases where patients with male-specific medical issues were documented under female gender markers, The Sun reports.
The largest group of these cases involved 263 patients admitted for prostatic hyperplasia, a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate that cannot occur in biological females.
Hundreds of transgender hospital patients were recorded as female in NHS records despite health problems that only affect biological males, new analysis has revealed (stock image)
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Another 85 patients were recorded as female despite being treated for prostate cancer.
The data also revealed 48 cases involving “male genital disorders” where patients were recorded as female in hospital records.
Current NHS rules allow transgender patients to change their gender in databases while maintaining separate patient records.
“There is pressure on staff not to offend patients,” one GP told The Sun.
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The same GP adds: “But the fact that they are recorded as women in the statistics is ridiculous. »
The recording of gender identity in hospital statistics has raised questions about medical record keeping practices within the NHS system.
Conservative MP Sir John Hayes responded to the findings by saying: “You can’t change biology. »
Data from hospitals in England and Wales suggests 482 patients were registered as female despite being admitted for problems related to the prostate, testicles or penis in the year to March.
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“It is an immutable fact that these conditions only appear in biological males,” he added.
Hayes further criticized the health service’s approach, saying: “The fact that the NHS is going along with this is absurd. »
Responding to the findings, an NHS spokesperson said: “These statistics indicate the gender recorded by patients and therefore include trans women, with additional details about patients included in their health records. »