A Norfolk MP has launched a scathing attack on an NHS hospital after it produced a document saying it is wrong to describe babies as being "born male or female".
Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth, criticised the James Paget Hospital (JPH) after it told people to stop using the expression and instead say "assigned female/male at birth".
The hospital document said the latter phrase "accurately depicts the situation of what happens at birth".
Mr Lowe, said: "It's astonishing that guidance from a hospital, which is full of doctors and nurses who have spent years studying, does not seem to know what happens when a baby is born.
"We aren't 'assigned' male or female at birth. We are male or female at birth. There are sexes. We must not be afraid to say that.
"There is no confusion around the science of childbirth. This ludicrous language suggests there is.
“We must be respectful to all, but we must also not deny medical reality."
The hospital has declined to comment.
The language instructions are contained in an eight-page document called 'Celebrating Pride' which was produced by the communications department at the hospital, which is in Mr Lowe's constituency.
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Mr Lowe said: "For the NHS to be stating that the phrase 'ladies and gentlemen' is offensive is plain bonkers.
"My constituents would prefer this inaccurate and confusing woke nonsense was left out of the hospital.
"Medical professionals must respect biological fact, as I’m sure the vast majority do.
"But we must root this woke virus out of hospitals and other public sector institutions, urgently."
The MP said the document represented an endorsement of gender ideology, which promotes the idea of people's so-called 'gender identity' over their biological sex.
Critics of gender ideology, such as Mr Lowe, say that sex is biological and immutable, so it cannot be changed.
They warn that the promotion of such an ideology can lead to confusion in healthcare settings, because it encourages people not to use biologically precise phrases, like woman, meaning public health messaging can be missed or undermined.
Critics also say the ideology poses a risk to vulnerable young people, by encouraging them to believe they can be born "in the wrong body".
Mr Lowe said the JPH guidance was "potentially dangerous" and sending an "entirely warped message".
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The James Paget document, which appears on the hospital website, was first published in 2021. However, it has a 'review date' of June this year.
That was two months after the publication of the Cass Review, which investigated gender identity services in the NHS, amid concerns over the influence of gender ideology in the health service.
It found that vulnerable children questioning their gender had been let down by medics who prescribed life-altering treatments such as puberty blockers, with little scientific evidence to support them.
Mr Lowe went on: "This sends an entirely warped message to young people, which can have incredibly concerning consequences, as has been proven through the Cass Review.
"There are men, and there are women. That is a biological fact. It is confusing and potentially dangerous to confuse that in a healthcare setting.
"We must respect everyone's individual choices, and everyone is free to live as they choose, but that does not change scientific reality.
"There are many challenges within the public sector, particularly the NHS. Staff should focus on dealing with those, before promoting gender ideology.
"If the NHS wants to continue pushing this, they should be upfront about the cost and the reasons why.
"Layers and layers of meddling NHS management must be slashed down - with every ‘diversity’ related role made redundant in the public sector.
"Get rid of the lot, and divert those funds into the pockets of the frontline staff actually delivering for patients.”
The JPH has declined to comment on Mr Lowe's criticism or the contents of its document.
Its website says it produced the booklet for people who want to find out more about Pride and its origins and history.
FLAG WAR
Mr Lowe has also criticised public sector organisations for flying the 'Progress Flag'.
This is an updated version of the rainbow 'Pride' flag, which also includes black, brown, pink, pale blue and white stripes, to represent marginalised people of colour in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the trans community, and those living with HIV/AIDS.
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These colours are in an arrow, to represent that progress still needs to be made.
The flag - which has been flown at the JPH - has been criticised by some, including in the LGB community, who are concerned about the impact of transgender activism and the promotion of gender ideology, particularly on vulnerable children and on women's sex-based rights.
Mr Lowe tweeted: "Public sector institutions should not be pushing this flag. The gender ideology promoted within it is disturbing, and advances the idea that children are often born in the 'wrong' body."
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