Non–binary equality action plan 2023-2028: progress report 2024

The report provides detail on the progress made during 2024, our first year of this five-year plan. It outlines some of our key achievements, and describes what we said we would do, what we have done, and what our next steps are.


IT Systems

Commitment 10

Review the use of a sex code in Community Health Index (CHI) numbers and enable non-binary people to be recognised in medical records.

Commitment 21

Review of new or enhanced IT systems that are within scope of the Technology Assurance Framework.

Action 6.1

What we said we would do

We will complete an initial review with relevant policy colleagues and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) by end April 2024 to understand how the demographic information held in the new CHI system might reflect the range of non-binary definitions, and explore options, including in other core health systems.

What we have done so far

Discussions with relevant policy officials have highlighted the complexity and inter-connected nature of core health and social care systems across Scotland. The Scottish Government’s Digital Health and Care division has conducted initial discovery work with NHS Services Scotland and relevant Scottish Government policy teams due to be completed by the end of 2024.

Next steps

We will consider the findings of our initial discovery work to inform our future discussions with partner organisations, such as COSLA, NHS Health Boards, the Digital Office for Local Government, and the National Digital Platform during 2025. The timescale of this action has been adjusted from short-term to medium-term due to the scale and complexity of this work.

Timescale

Medium-term

Status

In progress

Action 6.2

What we said we would do

We will complete a review with the Chief Medical Officer by end April 2024 in the context of Scotland’s Data Strategy for Health and Social Care on the wider clinical impact of amendments to the CHI number.

What we have done so far

Discussions with relevant policy officials have highlighted the complexity and inter-connected nature of core health and social care systems across Scotland. The Scottish Government’s Digital Health and Care division has conducted initial discovery work with NHS Services Scotland and relevant Scottish Government policy teams due to be completed by the end of 2024.

Next steps

We will consider the findings of our initial discovery work to inform our future discussions with partner organisations, such as COSLA, NHS Health Boards, the Digital Office for Local Government, and the National Digital Platform during 2025. The timescale of this action has been adjusted from short-term to medium-term due to the scale and complexity of this work.

Timescale

Medium-term

Status

In progress

Action 6.3

What we said we would do

We will complete a review by end December 2023 on lessons learned from our current work on the new CHI project.

What we have done so far

We met with Scottish Government colleagues responsible for delivery of the new CHI system in November 2023, with the key insight being that the demographic field in new CHI offered the prospect of recording additional information, such as gender. In the short term, reflecting the wider priorities of the health and social care data strategy, and its commitments on race and ethnicity data, we conducted initial discovery work as set out in 6.1 above. Our parallel work in relation to race and ethnicity data will further inform our approach to CHI and gender.

Timescale

Short-term

Status

Complete

Action 6.4

What we said we would do

We will ensure that new online services have assessed the needs and impacts of the services on non-binary people. New online services are independently assessed to ensure they follow set standards. This assessment will review the approach the team have taken and ensure that any actions identified for non-binary people have been followed through.

What we have done so far

We have started to work on the Digital Programme, which outlines a common methodology for delivering digital products and services. The Digital Programme is an area of work that is improving the way the Scottish public sector does digital. It will address the key challenges of how we deliver on the digital ambitions outlined in the current digital strategy.

Next steps

We will continue our work on the Digital Programme and this specific action during 2025.

Timescale

Medium-term

Status

In progress

Contact

Email: lgbtipolicy@gov.scot

Back to top