Campaigners have expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of support for children with gender dysphoria in Wales. Those seeking medical advice or treatment have to travel to London. With no equivalent access to support services for young people in Wales, some families have been forced to access private treatment. A report from the children’s commissioner for Wales describes NHS England’s interim service as “highly concerning” and at odds with Welsh government policy. It is also contrary to the LGBTQ+ action plan. The report urges more consideration for a Wales-specific gender service.
Sean Donovan, a 19-year-old from Caerphilly, had to seek private treatment with his family due to the long wait on the NHS. He knew he had gender dysphoria when he was 14 and said it was a “cop-out” that Wales did not offer services for young people. Waiting lists are years, not months, long, resulting in children being left in limbo. Sean says that access to services does not necessarily mean hormones, surgery, or puberty blockers, only counselling and support.
Sarah Donovan, Sean’s mother, says her world crashed when her son told her he identified as transgender, adding that a children’s gender service was desperately needed in Wales. More services are “needed for you, closer to where you live”, although the report does not give recommendations on the use of hormone treatments. Christina Witney, from Cardiff, says her 13-year-old son, who has been waiting to see a doctor about his gender dysphoria, is stressed most of the time and cries himself to sleep. She believes that more help is needed for children questioning their gender identity.
Rachel Thomas, head of policy and public affairs for the children’s commissioner, stated that gender services were one of the few areas of healthcare where services were better for adults, whereas you would usually expect services to become weaker upon moving to adult services. A Wales gender service should be a place of support, not just treatment. Services could include counselling, and do not necessarily relate to hormones or puberty blockers. While there are no immediate plans for an independent children and young people’s gender service in Wales, this will be aligned to Dr Cass’s final report, which is expected to be published soon
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