Hospital Clínic in Barcelona has presented its first-ever Guide to Transgender Care in Healthcare Settings, establishing standardised criteria designed to ensure respectful, safe, and non-discriminatory treatment for trans patients. The initiative aligns with Catalonia's LGBTI rights law that came into force in January and aims to address gaps in sensitivity and consistency among healthcare professionals.
The guide provides practical protocols for all hospital staff, including the use of patients' chosen names rather than birth names, guidance on admissions and hospitalisation procedures, and strict confidentiality standards. It also outlines behaviours to avoid in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusive care across departments.
Clear guidance for clinical staff
Nurse Rita Pons, who helped develop the document, said staff had long faced uncertainty in handling certain situations, prompting the need for clear, shared guidelines. Palliative care physician Débora Moreno added that the objective is both to reduce discrimination and strengthen awareness, promoting person-centred care that respects identity, privacy, and individual needs.
Among the recommendations are calling patients by their surname in waiting rooms, asking which pronouns they use, and in cases of hospitalisation, allowing patients to express preferences regarding shared rooms rather than assigning them based on gender assumptions.
Validation through patient input
Trans patient Noa, who participated in the presentation, described the guide as a "real moment of awareness" for healthcare professionals. Noa noted that whilst her own experiences at the hospital have been positive, the new framework will further improve care.
Noa also argued that the guide's approach does not view the trans experience as "a pathology," but rather is in line with "normalising" trans people. The guide has undergone multiple validation stages, including internal review by diversity and equality groups, as well as consultation with trans and non-binary patients and their families during a dedicated healthcare session in March.
The initiative represents a significant step towards standardising inclusive healthcare practices across Catalonia's public hospital system.
