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The NWJCC has raised concerns that some patients scheduled for surgery did not fulfill the “basic requirements for surgery,” citing an unsuitable body mass index (BMI)—a calculation based on height and weight—as one key issue. Additionally, there were questions about whether broader health considerations had been adequately addressed. Some clinical staff also expressed doubts regarding the thoroughness of the referral assessment process.
In response to these issues, the NWJCC announced plans to commission an independent review of the service. It is collaborating with experienced gender specialists to initiate this review as soon as possible. Health minister Mabon ap Gwynfor and deputy first minister Sioned Williams were present at a meeting with the NWJCC. Following this, the Welsh government clarified that the current decision represents a pause rather than a complete halt to surgeries. They assured that each individual case will be carefully reviewed and, upon confirming that appropriate clinical assessments are in place, patients will proceed to surgery at the earliest opportunity.
The decision to temporarily suspend surgeries was influenced by data suggesting that referral rates for gender affirming surgery in Wales during 2025-26 were “significantly higher” than those seen in English gender services. First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth previously emphasized the importance of a swift review into surgical services. He affirmed that although the committee’s decision was motivated by concerns about service quality and was made “for the right reason,” he sought a prompt resolution.
Prior to the meeting, a letter signed by 26 of Plaid Cymru’s 28 backbench Senedd members was sent to NWJCC chairman Ian Green. The letter expressed “profound disappointment” with the paused surgeries, highlighting that the decision had caused “distress, fear and a deep sense of uncertainty” within the trans community, particularly given the increasing pressure on the rights and dignity of trans people across the UK. Meanwhile, both Reform UK and the Welsh Conservatives welcomed the pause. Dan Thomas, Reform’s Welsh leader, described the suspension as a welcome move by “sensible-minded people in Wales,” while Welsh Conservative health spokesperson Natasha Asghar stressed the need for a review, stating it is critical to understand why Wales has a comparatively high rate of referrals for irreversible surgery and whether the assessment procedures and safeguards have been sufficiently rigorous
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