Meeting the health care needs of transgender people within the armed forces: putting UK military policy into practice

Whybrow, Dean ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9066-6196 2016. Meeting the health care needs of transgender people within the armed forces: putting UK military policy into practice. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 25 (23-24) , pp. 3743-3749. 10.1111/jocn.13573

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Abstract

AIM: To explain how the healthcare needs of transgender personnel are met within the United Kingdom Armed Forces (UK AF). BACKGROUND: It may be that when transgender people disclose their gender preference that they are at increased risk of social exclusion. The UK AF has an inclusive organisational policy for the recruitment and management of transgender personnel. DESIGN: This is a position paper about how the healthcare needs of transgender military personnel are met by the UK AF. METHODS: UK AF policy was placed into context by reviewing current research, discussing medical terminology, and describing the policy. This was followed by an account of how UK AF policy is applied in practice. DISCUSSION: Where armed forces had an inclusive policy for the management of transgender personnel there seemed to be little cause for secrecy and zero tolerance of discrimination when compared to nations where this was not the case. Medical terminology has changed to reflect a more inclusive, less stigmatising use of language. The UK AF policy has been described as progressive and inclusive. The application of this policy in practice may be dependent upon strong leadership and training. The wider UK AF seems capable of adopting a pragmatic and flexible approach to meeting the healthcare needs of transgender personnel. CONCLUSION: The UK AF value diversity within their workforce and have a progressive, inclusive policy for the recruitment and management of transgender personnel. Relevance to Clinical Practice When supporting a transgender military person, healthcare professionals, civilian organisations and military line managers should consider referring to UK AF policy as early as possible. Other military and uniformed services may wish to examine the UK AF exemplar in order to consider the applicability within their own organisational setting.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	care pathways; diversity; overall well-being
Publisher:	WileyBlackwell
ISSN:	0962-1067
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	23 March 2017
Date of Acceptance:	25 August 2016
Last Modified:	02 Dec 2024 14:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/94526

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