BIOLOGICAL sex has been erased from official health data — leading to missed cancer referrals for trans people, a review found.
Experts warn of “potentially fatal consequences” as people may not be called in for smear tests or prostate exams.
They found the word “gender” had begun to replace “sex” in the 1990s, meaning “robust and accurate data on biological sex” has been lost in the intervening years.
The University College London review warned the changes had also raised doubts over police data on previous criminal convictions.
It said officers may miss links between crimes committed by people who have changed their gender and not told them or self-declared a different sex and name.
Study leader Prof Alice Sullivan recommended the UK Statistics Authority review Civil Service activism and impartiality over its production of official statistics.
The results also raised significant safeguarding concerns, finding a Royal Navy sexual harassment survey asked for participants’ gender identity rather than their sex despite its relevance to the subject matter.
It also found a children’s camping programme only collected data on gender identity.
A government spokesman said: “This government is clear that the collection of accurate and relevant data is vital in research and the operation of effective public services, particularly when it comes to sex.
“We are grateful to Professor Sullivan for her work, which has been shared with relevant government departments and public organisations, including the ONS.”
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