In July, NHS England announced plans to expand and enhance children and young people’s gender services. The first phase of this programme includes the establishment of two new ‘Phase 1’ hubs (previously called ‘Early Adopter Services’); one in the North with Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, and one in the South with Great Ormond Street Hospital and Evelina London Children’s Hospital with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
NHS England is currently consulting on the draft interim service specification that will inform and support Phase 1 hubs to create and deliver this service https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/specialised-commissioning/gender-dysphoria-services/. Following the close of the consultation period on 4 December, NHS England will publish the consultation report and final interim service specification.
The second phase of this programme will be informed by the ongoing work of Dr Cass’ review and advice from Phase 1 hubs, which will help shape the development of the new model of care, national standards, and a new national service specification against which further regional services can be commissioned. NHS England will engage and consult fully on this service specification in due course.