Gender services for children shift from Sandyford clinic in Glasgow

Gender services for children and young people in Scotland are transitioning from the Sandyford clinic in Glasgow to a network of regional clinical settings led by paediatricians. This change follows recommendations from Scotland's chief medical officer, Prof Sir Gregor Smith, who emphasized that gender identity healthcare should not be provided in adult sexual health environments. Instead, it should align with age-appropriate services for children and adolescents. The public health minister, Jenni Minto, announced that access to these services will now require a referral from a clinician, mirroring protocols in other child and adolescent specialist services. New National Standards for Gender Identity Care will include screenings for neurodevelopmental conditions and autism during initial assessments for gender dysphoria, ensuring a more comprehensive approach to care. Since December 2022, the Scottish government has invested over £4.4 million to enhance gender identity healthcare, with a significant portion allocated to NHS Boards for improving service delivery. Despite these efforts, waiting times remain a concern, with reports indicating that over 1,100 young people were on the waiting list for services at the Sandyford clinic by the end of 2023, with some waiting as long as four-and-a-half years. The Scottish government is also participating in a UK-wide study on puberty blockers, following a halt in their routine prescription. The changes aim to address the rising number of young people experiencing gender dysphoria and to improve the overall quality and accessibility of gender identity healthcare in Scotland.