Emergency call handlers in London may soon be told to stop using 'Mr' and 'Mrs' to address callers.
According to The Telegraph, the London Ambulance Service is considering changing its policy to make the language used in 999 calls more inclusive and gender-neutral.
If the changes are adopted, it would also mean that call operators would no longer be able to use 'Sir' or 'Madam' to address callers.
The proposals were reportedly disclosed at a recent ambulance services conference hosted by LGBT campaigners.
Jules Lockett, head of emergency operations centre training at London Ambulance Service, and joint head of its LGBT network, told the conference that terms like 'Sir' and 'Madam' were a reflection of 'old fashioned customer service'.
She said the London Ambulance Service was looking into different words that could be used by the call operators and that they were being actively 'steered away' from addressing callers as 'Mr' or 'Mrs'.
The London Ambulance Service is not the only organisation embracing gender neutral terms on the grounds of being more inclusive.
Northern Ireland's Commissioner for Children and Young People, Koulla Yiasouma, told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme last week that teachers should 'try to use gender-neutral language to be welcoming of all the children'.
She made the comments after it emerged that the Education Authority is sending out 'non-statutory' guidance to schools across Northern Ireland to help them support transgender students.
Ms Yiasouma said: 'It's much easier to say good morning children than it is to say good morning boys and girls.'
But she added that teachers would be free to choose whether they used the recommended gender neutral language or not.
'I am not going to condemn a teacher for not doing it,' she said.
