‘Trans-friendly’ terms introduced to maternity services in Haywards Heath and Brighton

The Brighton and University Hospitals trust is to use ‘gender inclusive’ language including terms such as ‘chest feeding’, ‘birthing parent’ and ‘pregnant people.’

It says it has broadened the language used to support midwives providing care for trans and non-binary people who are giving birth.

The trust, which runs the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath and the Royal County Hospital in Brighton, says it “always aims to meet the needs of our local populations and provide the best possible, individually tailored care for every person.

“By adding to the language we use we will support more inclusive care and ensure that people who identify in a different way feel the service includes and represents them.”

A spokesman added: “The trust recognises the vast majority of midwifery service users are women and already has language in place women are comfortable with.

“This is not changing. For example, we will continue to call them pregnant women and talk about breastfeeding.”

BSUH Chief Nurse, Carolyn Morrice said: “Adding to the language we use is something people who use our services have been asking for, for some time.

“Our aim will always be to treat everyone who uses our services as an individual, providing care that is personal to them, that meets their needs and uses language they are comfortable with.”

Head of midwifery Amanda Clifton added: “I am looking forward to a time when this standard of inclusive care is in fact business as usual for the whole of the NHS. That being said, improvement has to start somewhere, and I am particularly proud of all the hard work our service has put into this award winning work.”