Released 2 May 2024
Request:
We are currently working on a research project examining the forms used at patient in-take to collect demographic information in sexual health services across England. The focus of this research specifically is examining the variations in questions about gender/ gender identity / assigned gender, as there is no one approach used across services.
We are writing to request, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, blank copies of:
- Patient in-take registration forms used by Sexual Health West Sussex, including the questions your service asks about gender/ gender identity/ assigned gender (or sex) at birth, and
- A list of the gender/ sex marker options on electronic patient records (if used by Sexual Health West Sussex).
Our freedom of information request is only related to the forms used in processing patient information – intake forms and electronic patient records; we do not require any data about service users. We are collecting this data across services to explore the information services collect.
Your service, along with all services in this project will be anonymised in data collection. We are happy to share findings and analysis with you to improve patient in-take for the future.
Information disclosed:
- Patient information is recorded electronically, with gender and other demographic information gathered during the patients initial contact through the central booking line or website. Please see the screenshot below of the form used by Sexual Health in West Sussex to record gender identity:
2. Please see the table below for information relevant to this question:
| Current Gender | Male (including trans man) |
| Female (including trans female) | |
| Non-Binary | |
| Other (not listed) | |
| Not stated (declined to respond) | |
| Current Gender same at birth | Yes – same as gender at birth |
| No – not the same gender at birth | |
| Not stated (declined to respond) |