Rules for single-sex spaces: what they mean for the NHS 

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By Adele Waters

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published new guidance on how to implement UK equality law.

Doctors.net.uk examines what this means for the NHS – including the impact on toilets, changing rooms and wards.

What is the new guidance?

The guidance is a code of practice that aims to help public bodies and services understand their responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and help them comply. It offers "practical and sensible" decisions for every day scenarios, such as in offering toilet provision.

It runs to more than 300 pages, covers nine protected characteristics including age, sex, disability, race and gender reassignment, and has been updated in full for the first time since 2011.

Who is affected by this new guidance?

It applies to any organisation providing services to the public across the private, public or voluntary sectors in Great Britain, such as hospitals, cafes and leisure centres.