Numerous Children in Queue for ‘Gender Care’ Appointments at Recently Established Clinics
The national waiting list for children experiencing gender confusion in England and Wales rose to nearly 6,000 after the closure of the scandal-hit Tavistock Clinic, with the youngest child on the waiting list under 5 years old.
The latest figures show that more than 5,700 under-18s are now on the waiting list to be seen by specialists, with an average wait time of close to two years.
Two new specialist hubs, led by London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, opened in April following the closure of the discredited Tavistock Clinic.
Many clinicians and campaigners have raised concerns about the increasing number of children and young adults identifying as “transgender,” especially after the damning Cass Review highlighted the failings in gender care.
Back in 2009, only 72 children were referred to the clinic, marking over a 7,800 percent increase in referrals to date.
Dr. Hilary Cass’s report emphasized that many of the children referred to the service had underlying mental health issues and developmental differences such as autism.
Lockdowns Increased Demand for Mental Health Services
Ashley Grossman, an endocrinologist with over 40 years of experience, mentioned that the rise in children on the waiting list reflects a broader issue of limited mental health resources for children, exacerbated by the pandemic.
The plan for implementing the Cass recommendations by the NHS is set to be released soon, with no specified date yet.
Dr. Roman Raczka, president of the British Psychological Society, stressed the importance of timely access to professional care and support for children and young people in need.
PA Media contributed to this report.
