What does Helen actually say about single-sex spaces in the NHS?

I say they matter, and so does the dignity of every person who walks through the door. The letter sets out why both things can be true at once, and how we design care around that. It is about making space work for everyone, not choosing sides. Does that feel like the conversation you have been waiting for?

Why does this issue matter so much right now?

Because people are genuinely worried, on all sides, and that worry shapes whether they seek care at all. When healthcare becomes a place where some feel unwelcome and others feel unsafe, everyone loses. I wrote this because silence was not helping anyone. What part of this feels most urgent to you?

Everyone deserves to feel safe in NHS spaces

Substack 12 February 2026

Safety and dignity in clinical settings are not competing values, and the debate about single-sex spaces in the NHS is being framed as though they are. Trans and non-binary people deserve to feel safe receiving care, and so does everyone else. Those two things are not in conflict, and it is time NHS leadership said so plainly.

An open letter to NHS leadership about a pressing issue facing healthcare providers: how to uphold both single-sex space provisions and the dignity of all patients, including transgender and non-binary people.

Helen examines what safety and dignity really mean in clinical settings, and why these values need not be in conflict. The conversation matters because it shapes how every person experiences care.

Read the full letter to understand her approach to this complex issue.

In response to: Dear NHS Manager, everyone deserves to feel safe (Substack)