This is the email sent on 6th October:
"Dear Staff
I attended Princess Grace Hospital today for a pre-op assessment. My surgery is due on Monday 10th October.
Before attending the assessment, I completed a questionnaire in which I explained that:
1. I wanted single sex bathroom / accommodation facilities during my stay, as per my rights under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulation 2014) as updated in 2022, and the CQC Fundamental Standards of Care relating to Dignity and Privacy, and in accordance with the Equality Act Schedule 3 Single Sex Exemption; and
2. that I would not agree to use pronouns or otherwise engage with such manifestations of gender ideology. This is in accordance with my beliefs which are deemed to be “worthy of respect in a democratic society” (as per the judgment in Forstate v CGD) and are also listed as one of the nine protected categories (Religion / Beliefs) under the Equality Act 2010.
I selected a private hospital specifically to avoid the NHS, because of the Annex B policy scandal, which has resulted in sexual assaults and rapes in mixed sex facilities, on an industrial scale, as recent FOI enquiries have made clear. I know this, because I am part of an enquiry into it. It is a fact that mixed sex hospital facilities are unsafe for women.
Only five years ago I would not have worried about this; however, the reality is that in the last few years, the use of online porn has grown exponentially. There are a myraid of porn genres (which have been monetised) and no end to the depths of depravity online. 2.8% of heterosexual men have a paraphilia of some kind. Everybody has a mobile phone. I do not wish to be exposed to risk while I am immobilised when I am in ICU following my surgery.
This matter is of sufficient importance to me that I regard the two requirements above as a condition of my contract with HCA.
The pre-op assessment which I had this afternoon at the Princess Grace Hospital included intimate procedures including [redacted]
Towards the end of my assessment, somebody knocked at and simultaneously opened the door without waiting to be invited to enter. The door opened onto a corridor. A young male in what appeared to be a blonde wig, wearing full evening make-up including bright scarlet lipstick peered at me. I am not sure wht his role was or what he was doing there. He made direct eye contact with me (which in itself was quite brazen and so disconcerting), then said something to the nurse and looked away.
I was horrified and shocked that any male member of staff would feel entitled to breach the privacy of a woman patient in such a way in these circumstances. It was especially egregious that this happened in the light of the advance notice I had given to the hospital.
All male staff should be required to knock at a door and WAIT for permission to enter before opening a door when a female patient is in a state of undress. This person obviously feels sufficiently entitled to walk in on a female patient and I find this to be very alarming. This transgression suggests that there is a lack fo discipline / training of male staff to respect the boundaries of female patients at HCA. Although this is following a societal trend (see above) I did not expect to encounter this in a central London private hospital. It makes me feel very nervous about aftercare.
None of this augurs well for women who are vulnerable following major surgery.
Accordingly I have to make the following requests:
1. While I naturally accept that Professor Faiz’s surgical team is mixed sex, I am again stating my wish that the nursing, auxiliary and support staff with whom I will be in immediate contact following surgery are FEMALE ONLY. Please note that trans-identifying males are NOT females.
2. I will accept male staff entering my room ONLY if they are qualified doctors unless by prior agreement with me.
3. I assume that I will have a private room with a private bathroom.
4. I insist that the above incidence is registered as a Patient Dignity Lapse on the hospital incident recording system.
Finally, in light of the above, I do feel that the hospital should follow a protocol of offering ALL women patients single-sex nursing care. Please do not make life difficult for women when they are at their most vulnerable by forcing them into uncomfortable and embarrassing situations. I cannot believe that I am the first patient to have raised this with you.
What are you doing to reassure female patients as to their privacy, comfort and dignity in accordance with the CQC Fundamental Standards in this regard. Does HCA guarantee same sex care to it women patients?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully
Teresa [redacted]
Solicitor (retired)"
This was the hospital's response, sent the next day on 7th October:
"From: [redacted]
Sent: 07 October 2022 19:36
To: [redacted]
Subject: Response from the Princess Grace Hospital
Dear [redacted]
Thank you for your email dated 6th October 2022.
We have reviewed the content of your email. We do not share yor beliefs and are not able to adhere to your requests and we have therefore decided we will not proceed with your surgery at The Princess Grace Hospital on Monday 10th October 2022. We have shared our decision with Professor Fiaz and recommend you make alternative arrangements.
I appreciate this is not the communication you were expecting to receive, however HCA is committed to protecting our staff from unacceptable distress and we believe the cornerstone of good patient care is based on mutual respect and trust."
I gave up driving two years ago. I am nearly 85.
