NHS waiting list for gender care

Despite the opening of two new specialist hubs for children's gender care in April 2024, the waiting list in England and Wales has increased to over 5,700 under-18s, with an average wait time of 100 weeks for a first appointment. The hubs, operated by Great Ormond Street Hospital and Alder Hey Children's Hospital, were established following the closure of the Tavistock clinic but have only taken on 236 patients from the previous service. Experts have expressed concerns over the rising numbers, emphasizing the necessity for timely access to care for young people. Notably, at least one child under the age of five is currently on the waiting list, despite NHS guidelines suggesting referrals should not occur until the age of seven. NHS England acknowledges the distress caused by long wait times and is planning improvements to the gender care services. The two new centres employ approximately 40 full-time equivalent staff members as they aim to better serve the needs of children seeking gender-related support.