The NHS is shutting down its gender identity clinic for children at the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust
(Picture: PA Archive)The NHS is shutting down its gender identity clinic for children at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.
The contract for the gender identity service at the Trust will be brought to a close, the NHS said.
It said it intends to build a "more resilient service" by expanding provision, and will establish two services led by specialist children's hospitals in London and the north west.
The NHS aims for these to be fully up and running by Spring 2023.
It follows recommendations from Dr Hilary Cass, who is leading an independent review into Gender Identity Services for children and young people.
Her report warned that children and young people are being forced to endure “lengthy” waits to access gender dysphoria services, putting them at “considerable risk”.
She said there was a need to move away from a model of a sole provider, and instead establish regional services to better meet patients' needs.
In her interim report, released in March, she wrote: “It has become increasingly clear that a single specialist provider model is not a safe or viable long-term option in view of concerns about lack of peer review and the ability to respond to the increasing demand.”
Demand for support from GIDS has risen sharply over the last decade, with more than 5,000 referrals in 2021/22, compared to less than 250 in 2011-12.
Dr Cass recommended that care is provided by regional centres “led by experienced providers of tertiary paediatric care to ensure a focus on child health and development, with strong links to mental health services”.
The review also found some health staff feel under pressure to adopt an “unquestioning affirmative approach”, and recommended they remain open and explore the patient’s experience and options.
In response, NHS England will establish two new Early Adopter Services – one in London and one in the North West. Both centres hope to be operational by Spring next year.
These servicse will take over clinical responsibility for all GIDS patients, the Trust said.
The London-based service will be formed as a partnership between Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and Evelina London Children’s Hospital, with specialist mental health support provided by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
