Lloyds Banking Group has rolled out its new employee health insurance plan, which now includes private gender reassignment surgery.

The group, which includes Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland and Scottish Widows, is the first employer in the UK to offer the said surgery with their health insurance, according to LGBT publication PinkNews.

A group spokesperson said: "Lloyds Banking Group has today extended its private medical benefits service to include cover for gender dysphoria.

"The health and wellbeing of all our colleagues is of utmost importance to the group and we are committed to providing them with increasing and inclusive support."

The procedure will be provided through Bupa and is available to any permanent staff member based in the UK mainland. The new policy was announced to employees last week.

Last year, the company started colleague and line manager guidance for employees who undergo gender transition and allowed employees to select a non-binary gender option for staff surveys.