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Welsh Gender Service

As of 1st November 2023 the current waiting time for a first gender appointment is 15 months; we are currently booking patients who were referred to us in August/September 2022.

Policy for non-attenders: If you miss an appointment without having informed us, we will offer one further appointment. If you do not attend this appointment, you will be removed from our waiting list and will need to return to your GP and request a new referral to the Welsh Gender Service.

The Welsh Gender Service (WGS) was established in 2019. The WGS operates as part of a network involving local clinicians to ensure that care is offered closer to home, via your Local Health Board.

The WGS is based in St David’s Hospital in Cardiff. Appointments can take place at the WGS itself, or online, or at our North Wales satellite clinic in Holywell. There are plans for further satellite clinics to be set up by the end of 2024.

 

Referral to the Welsh Gender Service

You can access the Welsh Gender Service if you are over 18 and are registered with a Welsh GP. You should ask your GP to make an electronic referral. If they are not sure how to do this they can contact us and we’ll help them with the process.

We can accept referrals from GPs for patients who are aged 17 and over; but you and your GP should understand that you will not become a patient of the WGS until you have turned 18, and responsibility will remain with your GP until that point.

Patients who are under 17 who wish to access gender services should ask their GP for a referral to Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the first instance. Once a young person reaches 17, their file should be transferred to the WGS automatically.

 

What happens after referral?

You will join the WGS waiting list; when you move towards the top you’ll receive a phone call to arrange an appointment; following this you’ll receive a letter to confirm the details. If you have opted in, you will also receive text reminders about your appointment.

If we can’t get in touch with you by phone, we’ll send a letter asking you to contact us and it is really important that you do this within two weeks of receiving the letter. If we don’t hear from you we will assume you no longer require an appointment.

Unfortunately, a high number of patients do not attend for their appointments at the Welsh Gender Service, and this means longer wait times for everyone on our list. If you know you will not be able to attend your appointment in advance, please call us on 029 2183 6619 so that we can reschedule and offer someone else the cancelled slot.

 

Appointments and patient journey

Following your first appointment there are various stages to the patient journey, delivered by various providers. The table below provides an explainer of what your pathway may include.

 

Pathway step
What to expect
Provider

Initial assessment & diagnostic appointments

 

These appointments are usually 60-90 minutes long, and will allow the clinician to understand your history and experiences and decide with you next steps.

Welsh Gender Service

Follow up appointments

To review progress along the pathway and consider further steps, if appropriate.

Welsh Gender Service

Endocrine review

 

To support an appropriate treatment plan for patients with a more complex medical history.

Welsh Gender Service

Psychological therapy

 

Psychological therapy or support may be appropriate for some patients; a range of interventions are available. This service is in high demand so there may be a wait before you are offered an appointment.

Welsh Gender Service

Hormone therapy

 

The majority of patients will access gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) as part of their treatment pathway. The WGS will make a recommendation then refer you to your Local Gender Team (LGT) to coordinate your treatment. The WGS doesn’t hold information about waiting times for LGTs so you will need to contact them direct should you have any queries.

Local Health Board – via Local Gender Team (LGT) initially; then GP

Surgical referral

 

Gender-affirming chest and genital surgeries are carried out at a number of centres across England and you will be asked for your preference; this will be included in your referral. For access to a genital surgery pathway, you will need to see an independent clinician for review after you see the WGS clinician; we will organise this for you.

Referrals are sent to the NHS Gender Dysphoria Gender Dysphoria National Referral Support Service (GDNRSS) – also known as the Surgical Hub.  You will be notified once your referral has been processed.

The WGS doesn’t hold information about waiting times for surgeries, so you will need to contact the Hub direct should you have any queries.

NHS England surgical network

Fertility preservation

 

If you require fertility preservation there are two options. Mid and South Wales patients will be referred directly by WGS to the WFI. Referrals for North Wales patients will be arranged by the Local Gender Team after initial tests have been concluded. 

Wales Fertility Institute or The Hewitt Centre

Speech and Language Therapy

 

If this is recommended, either the WGS or your GP can refer you. In some health board areas, patients can self-refer.

Local Health Board (via GP referral)

Peer Support

 

We partner with Umbrella Cymru to offer peer support for patients who may benefit from this. You can also self-refer at any time – contact details below

Umbrella Cymru

 

 

Contact Details

Welsh Gender Service

We welcome phone calls in Welsh and in English.

General enquiries

029 2183 6612 or cav.wgs_enquiries@wales.nhs.uk

Appointment enquiries

029 2183 6619 or cav.wgs_enquiries@wales.nhs.uk

 

 

Surgical Hub (GNDRSS)

General Enquiries

01522 857799 or agem.gdnrss@nhs.net

Please note that the Welsh Gender Service do not have access to any information about your surgical referral once it has been passed to the Hub.

 

Local Gender Teams

We welcome phone calls in Welsh and English.

Aneurin Bevan

abb.alexclinic@wales.nhs.uk

Betsi Cadwaladr

03000 85 66 88

Cardiff and Vale

localgenderservice.team.cav@wales.nhs.uk
07912 471661

Cwm Taf

CTM.LGT@wales.nhs.uk

Hywel Dda

gs_enquiries.HDD@wales.nhs.uk

Powys

01654 702224

Swansea Bay

SBU.LocalGenderService@wales.nhs.uk
01792 285005

Please be aware that Local Gender Teams do not operate full-time, so there may be a delay in responding to your message.

The Welsh Gender Service do not have access to any information about Local Gender Team appointments, waiting times, or blood test results.

 

Umbrella Cymru

Website

www.umbrellacymru.co.uk

Voicemail

0300 302 3670

Text

07520645700

 

 

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