Meeting the healthcare needs of transgender people within the armed forces: putting UK military policy into practice.
OBJECTIVE
To explain how the healthcare needs of transgender personnel are met within the United Kingdom Armed Forces.


BACKGROUND
It may be that when transgender people disclose their gender preference that they are at increased risk of social exclusion. The United Kingdom Armed Forces has an inclusive organisational policy for the recruitment and management of transgender personnel.


METHODS
This is a position paper about how the healthcare needs of transgender military personnel are met by the United Kingdom Armed Forces.


METHODS
United Kingdom Armed Forces policy was placed into context by reviewing current research, discussing medical terminology and describing the policy. This was followed by an account of how UK AF policy is applied in practice.


CONCLUSIONS
Where armed forces had an inclusive policy for the management of transgender personnel, there seemed to be little cause for secrecy and zero tolerance of discrimination when compared to nations where this was not the case. Medical terminology has changed to reflect a more inclusive, less stigmatising use of language. The United Kingdom Armed Forces policy has been described as progressive and inclusive. The application of this policy in practice may be dependent upon strong leadership and training. The wider United Kingdom Armed Forces seems capable of adopting a pragmatic and flexible approach to meeting the healthcare needs of transgender personnel.


CONCLUSIONS
The United Kingdom Armed Forces value diversity within their workforce and have a progressive, inclusive policy for the recruitment and management of transgender personnel.


CONCLUSIONS
When supporting a transgender military person, healthcare professionals, civilian organisations and military line managers should consider referring to United Kingdom Armed Forces policy as early as possible. Other military and uniformed services may wish to examine the United Kingdom Armed Forces exemplar in order to consider the applicability within their own organisational setting.
School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Dean
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9066-6196
D
Whybrow
Navy Command HQ, Royal Navy, Portsmouth, UK.
Chris
C
New
DCMH Plymouth, Royal Navy, Plymouth, UK.
Rik
R
Coetzee
School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Paul
P
Bickerstaffe
D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D057766:Policy; D063106:Transgender Persons; D006113:United Kingdom; D005260:Female
care pathways; diversity; overall well-being