GIC Waiting Times and 1st/2nd Appts.

Reference: 23-24442

Date response sent: 19/02/2024

Details of enquiry

1. How many patients are currently on the waiting list for a first appointment to be seen by Gender Identity Clinic?
2. What is the longest period a patient has been on the waiting list to be seen by your Gender Identity Clinic?
3. How many staff by grade and occupation are employed within your organisation to provide Gender Identity Clinic services to patients and members of the public.
4. What support are you providing to patients whilst they are on the waiting list for a first appointment at a Gender Identity Clinic
5. Do you provide any interim support to General Practitioners whilst a patient is waiting for a first appointment to be seen by your Gender Identity Service having been referred?
6. What actions and policies do you have in respect of improvements to waiting lists and times for patients to be seen by your Gender Identity Clinic/Services?
7. What is the annual budget and operating costs for Gender Identity Clinics/Services operated by your organisation, can you please provide figures for the past 3 years.
8. Does your trust publish any policies on interim medication and hormone replacement therapy for patients sometimes called bridging prescribing to reduce self harm or similar, if so please could you provide a copy of the policy?

Response sent

1. How many patients are currently on the waiting list for a first appointment to be seen by Gender Identity Clinic?

This information is available on our website at: Gender identity clinic (GIC) – Tavistock and Portman

2. What is the longest period a patient has been on the waiting list to be seen by your Gender Identity Clinic?

480.1 weeks

3. How many staff by grade and occupation are employed within your organisation to provide Gender Identity Clinic services to patients and members of the public.

4. What support are you providing to patients whilst they are on the waiting list for a first appointment at a Gender Identity Clinic

The GIC is not commissioned to offer any direct interventions for people on the waiting list.

The service will offer generic support and advice as well as signpost referrers and patients to where they might seek further help or support. The GIC website contains information and links to resources and support groups.

In emergencies, we ask that the patient/carer or their referrer contacts their local mental health service for support with their mental health as we are not an emergency service.

5. Do you provide any interim support to General Practitioners whilst a patient is waiting for a first appointment to be seen by your Gender Identity Service having been referred?

No

6. What actions and policies do you have in respect of improvements to waiting lists and times for patients to be seen by your Gender Identity Clinic/Services?

Pipeline Actions to mitigate Waiting Times

We are currently working through a waiting list improvement plan, with NHS England (NHSE) commissioners’ involvement, to map projected waiting times against improvement actions. This will be published as soon as it is available, and we anticipate that it should indicate shorter waiting times.

We have been informed by NHSE Specialist Commissioning that in 2020 NHS England (NHSE) began to commission, for a period of 3-years, GIC pilot clinics, to reduce waiting times for adults accessing gender care. This process can only be enacted subject to patient consent, and it would be down to the pilot clinics to check patient catchment area details, contact them, and explain the transfer option.

The Pilot clinics will receive some of the longest waiters at GICs. We do not have full details of all these pilot clinics. NHSE Specialist Commissioning (National) should be approached directly for any supplemental details on these.

The Trust cannot accurately predict how waiting times for those referred today may be impacted by these and any other future service developments.

7. What is the annual budget and operating costs for Gender Identity Clinics/Services operated by your organisation, can you please provide figures for the past 3 years.

8. Does your trust publish any policies on interim medication and hormone replacement therapy for patients sometimes called bridging prescribing to reduce self harm or similar, if so please could you provide a copy of the policy?