Transgender individuals could encounter treatment delays and an increased risk of corridor care due to upcoming NHS England guidelines restricting their access to same-sex wards, according to internal documentation. An assessment reviewed by the Guardian indicates that trans patients might additionally face discrimination, potentially resulting in them avoiding medical care entirely. The document evaluated the policy's implications across protected characteristics, noting positive outcomes regarding privacy, dignity, and safety for men and women, alongside legal clarity for single-sex facilities. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, religious groups, and ethnic minorities were also identified as benefiting from the framework. However, the evaluation outlined several prospective negative consequences for transgender patients, warning that inadequate side-room availability could cause care delays detrimental to physical and mental health. Trans individuals might also experience or fear discrimination if they are outed by placement in wards inconsistent with their gender identity or isolated in side rooms. Capacity limitations across hospitals could compel facilities to house trans patients in environments matching their biological sex, creating distressing circumstances. Furthermore, the policy might strain relations between cisgender and transgender populations as staff balance competing group needs, potentially fostering division. The framework was also noted to possibly subject certain women who deviate from societal expectations to questioning regarding their sex to enter single-sex areas. NHS England released guidelines on Thursday mandating that single-sex wards, restrooms, and changing facilities accommodate individuals based on biological sex rather than gender identity, while safeguarding clinical needs, privacy, dignity, and safety. This update follows a 2025 supreme court decision clarifying that Equality Act terminology regarding women and sex pertains strictly to biological females, excluding transgender women possessing gender recognition certificates. Revised Equality and Human Rights Commission codes similarly dictate that services operate on biological sex while acknowledging potential disadvantages for trans populations. The internal review suggested mitigations, including prioritizing clinical needs and exempting accident and emergency or intensive care departments. Accommodations should not prompt corridor care, and placement decisions must occur on a case-by-case basis. NHS England chose not to provide a statement.