Doctor sues NHS trust after 'bearded trans patient allowed on women's psychiatric ward exposed himself'

A 'bearded' transgender patient was allowed on to a female psychiatric NHS ward before exposing themselves to fellow patients, a senior doctor claimed today.

The biological man, who identifies as a woman, was initially placed on the female ward at Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust.

But when other patients complained about their presence and behaviour, they were moved to a male ward – before managers decided to return them to the female ward.

The doctor – known as Dr A – is now taking legal action against the trust, alleging that bosses dismissed serious safeguarding fears and had 'unlawful' policies in place.

She cited the trust's 'Delivering Single Sex Accommodation' policy which states trans patients should be accommodated based on their presentation, including for toilets.

This comes despite the recent Supreme Court ruling, saying the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

Dr A said vulnerable women including sexual violence survivors were being detained in psychiatric wards which men can access because they identify as females.

She expected the trust's policy to be changed to follow the law, but her requests for bosses to explain their plans for an amendment faced delays and pushback.

A 'bearded' transgender patient was allowed on to a female psychiatric ward (stock photo) 

Dr A found out about the incident involving the transgender patient at a consultants' meeting a few months after the Supreme Court judgment, which was in April 2025.

She told The Times that a male consultant working on the ward explained the situation but suggested he could take no action because of the trust's policies.

Dr A said: 'He said that there had been a man with a beard and full male genitalia who had been exposing himself to female patients and they were unhappy.

'He said to me, "But what can you do about it?" I asked him, "What do you mean what do you do about it? You don't allow it to happen. You're in charge of the ward".

'This person he was talking about wasn't allowed to have access to a razor, so they could not shave.'

She then contacted the manager of a female ward at the trust, who confirmed what happened and explained the absurdity of the policy.

Dr A said: 'She told me that the male and female wards are connected at the back by a corridor and if a man wandered through to the female ward there would be a high-level investigation.

'But then if that man turned around and said I'm a woman, she said, "We wouldn't do anything".'

In June 2025, Dr A lodged a formal grievance over the trust's alleged failure to implement the Supreme Court ruling, and the trust partially upheld this in the autumn.

But she claims the trust has still not amended its policies – and has now filed the particulars of a tribunal claim with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said the case 'exposes the profound consequences that arise when an NHS Trust loses sight of biological reality' 

Dr A said: 'The public, politicians and the media need to know that mentally ill men and women are being detained together on mixed sex wards whilst the NHS pretends its wards are single sex.

'After the Supreme Court judgment, I expected policies and practices to change quickly. Instead, I encountered continued uncertainty, reluctance to provide clear answers, and what I believed was an institutional failure to recognise the importance of genuine single-sex spaces for vulnerable women.

'Female psychiatric patients are among the most vulnerable people in our healthcare system. They are detained in these wards, many have experienced violence, abuse or trauma. They may be frightened, heavily medicated or simply unable to speak up when they feel unsafe.

'As a senior doctor, I could not remain silent while women's privacy and dignity were being compromised. I raised these concerns because I believe every patient has a right to be treated with compassion and to have her sex recognised when intimate care, accommodation and personal safety are involved.'

It comes as NHS England has not yet set a date for implementing new guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission to protect single-sex spaces.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting Dr A, said today: 'This case exposes the profound consequences that arise when an NHS Trust loses sight of biological reality.

'Women admitted to psychiatric hospitals are often at a point of extreme vulnerability. Some will have experienced sexual violence, domestic abuse or other serious trauma. Their need for privacy, dignity and safety cannot simply be set aside.

'It beggars belief that, in precisely the kind of environment where safeguarding should come first, biological sex can effectively be disregarded and a biologically male staff member or patient are treated as a woman for access to female-only spaces.

'Dr A acted with courage, professionalism and compassion. As a consultant psychiatrist, she sought to protect patients and support colleagues who might not have felt able to raise these concerns themselves.'