AQW 29392/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 26/06/2025
Answered On Date: 02/07/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether his Department will ensure that intersex people are included in the provision of gender-based healthcare, ensuring that alignment to either the male or female sex does not exclude them from accessing the required healthcare.

Answer:

The Department of Health is committed to ensuring that all individuals, including those who are intersex, have equitable access to appropriate and high-quality healthcare services. We recognise that gender-based healthcare must be inclusive and responsive to the needs of people whose biological characteristics do not align strictly with binary definitions of male or female.

Our policies are guided by the principles of equality and non-discrimination, as set out under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

We are working with stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and advocacy groups, to improve awareness and service provision that reflects the diversity of patient needs. This includes ensuring that clinical pathways, data collection, and service design are inclusive of intersex people.

The Department remains committed to fostering a healthcare system that respects and supports the dignity and rights of all individuals, regardless of sex characteristics.