Cwestiwn ysgrifenedig WQ83971

The Welsh Health Specialised Services Commitee (WHSSC), which commissions the Welsh Gender Service, is working closely with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board to expand the service.

Additional funding has been provided to the Welsh Gender Service to increase capacity, reduce waiting times and increase expertise over three years. The investment also focuses on the development of a satellite clinic in North Wales.

In 2020-21, the Welsh Gender Service reduced the waiting list by six months with plans in place to reduce it further over the next few years. The service has successfully recruited professionals with additional expertise to undertake surgical assessments, which would have previously required a referral to the London based Gender Identity Clinic hosted by The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.

The Welsh Government’s draft LGBTQ+ Action Plan seeks to address trans healthcare inequalities in line with recommendations issued by the Independent LGBTQ+ Expert Panel.

Draft actions currently include commitments to:

• Continue to develop the Wales Gender Service with GPs able to initiate hormone therapy as part of the adult pathway

• Work with the Wales Gender Service to address public perception that there is disparity of access to gender identity services for non-binary people

• Promote trans people’s engagement with healthcare services.

The public consultation on the draft action plan has closed and work is ongoing to further refine the trans healthcare actions. The final plan is expected to be published in 2022.