Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the work under action 23 of the LGBTQ+ Action Plan to explore options to develop a gender identity development service for young people?
The Welsh Government is committed to improving the Gender Identity Development pathway and the support available for young people in Wales, in line with the commitments in our LGBTQ+ plan.
The aim of the Cass Review is to ensure children and young people who are questioning their gender identity or experiencing gender dysphoria, and require support from the NHS, receive a high standard of care that meets their needs and is safe, holistic and effective.
Following the publication of the final Cass report in April, we continue to be driven by the evidence to best support the needs of young people who are questioning their gender.
We commission gender identity services for young people from NHS England and the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee is represented on the Gender Dysphoria Services Transformation Programme Board in England. The pathway for young people in Wales includes a holistic assessment in CAMHS before referral to the service.
The work of the Transformation Programme has already been shaped by the findings from the interim Cass report (published in February 2022), with good progress made to date. This has included establishing two new children and young people’s gender services which opened in April. Up to 8 regional centres will be commissioned and the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (JCC) is working with NHS England to consider a regional centre in Wales. Progress also includes the establishment of the National Children and Young People’s Gender Dysphoria Research and Oversight Board, chaired by Professor, Sir Simon Wessely.
The JCC will now work with the Transformation Programme as they develop an implementation plan following consideration of the final Cass report.
The NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee has published the following briefing regarding the publication of the final Cass report: