King’s College Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Adopts New Pronouns Policy

According to a recent report, King’s College Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has directed its staff to accommodate pronoun preferences for individuals who request them, including the use of “Xey/Xem.”

The Telegraph indicated that this south London NHS trust informed employees to apologize if they mistakenly use the wrong pronouns. This initiative is part of their training document titled “Pronouns and the LGBTQ+ Community,” which outlines various pronouns, such as I/me, She/her, He/him, They/them, Ze/Zir, and It/Its, among others.

“Xey/Xem” are classified as gender-neutral neopronouns, catering to individuals who identify as non-binary or genderqueer and prefer alternatives to traditional gender pronouns.

The report highlighted that the Trust emphasizes the significance of each individual identifying their own pronouns. They view this approach as a pathway toward fostering an inclusive environment at work.

Revealed through a Freedom of Information request, this training initiative reportedly took place in February 2025.

Elizabeth Mills, a senior spokesperson for the Trust, remarked that the goal is to create welcoming and safe hospital environments where everyone feels valued and can access necessary care. Staff were encouraged to acknowledge mistakes with pronouns gracefully—correcting them without making a fuss and moving forward.

Furthermore, reports suggest that staff were advised to employ gender-neutral language, recommending terms like “all” or “team” instead of using “ladies and gentlemen.” This reflects an effort to enhance inclusivity across communication practices within the organization.