Scotland ends self-referral for gender identity services

NHS Scotland’s Gender Identity Service will no longer accept self-referrals.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde announced that as of Tuesday, referrals to its gender services will only be accepted from a clinician.

The change will affect referrals to the Young People’s Gender Service, which is provided nationally, and the Adult Gender Service for the west of Scotland.

The NHS board said the move brings gender services in line with other clinical specialties – while already require referral by a clinician.

There are currently four NHS Gender Identity Clinics (GICs); at Glasgow Sandyford, Edinburgh Chalmers, Aberdeen Cornhill and Inverness Raigmore.

NHSGGC said the change will ensure patients with “gender incongruence” are supported and placed appropriately on waiting lists.

Health experts advised that anyone currently on the wait list for the services will not be affected.

Dr Emilia Crighton, NHSGGC director of public health, said: “Ensuring that our patients have the appropriate support and care they need is a priority for us and updating this referral process enables us to do that.

“Gender patients will now be referred by their GP, CAMHS, or Adult Mental Health service clinician.

“In doing so they are also advised of self-care and signposted to the appropriate support while they wait for their first gender service appointment.

“When it is time for their first appointment with the gender service, we have an accurate background for them and can immediately plan the most appropriate path of care.”

Self-referral change follows puberty blocker pause

It comes after prescription of puberty blockers was paused for new patients in Scotland following a major review into gender care in April this year.

The review found the medicine was “built on shaky foundations” and children had been let down by a “toxic” public discourse.

The Scottish Government said it would consider every recommendation of the Cass Review released in April.

Published by Dr Hilary Cass, it made a series of recommendations about what should change in the provision of transgender healthcare for under-18s.

Scottish Government officials had met Dr Cass several times over the course of her review “to share information” about improving care in Scotland.

Both NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) and NHS Lothian deferred starting new patients on treatments in mid-March in response to the position taken by NHS England.

NHSGGC covers Scotland’s only gender clinic for under-18s while NHS Lothian provides care to those aged 17 and over at its Chalmers gender identity clinic.