Welsh Gender Service

IMPORTANT MESSAGE REGARDING BLOOD SAMPLES

NHS services are currently affected by an international shortage of products used for blood collection. In order to preserve supplies, only urgent blood tests are being carried out. Your clinician will assess your need for blood samples and all urgent care should be sought as usual - For more information please visit the Welsh Government website or contact your clinician.

The Welsh Gender Service was first announced by the Health Minister, Vaughan Gething AM in 2017. Since the Health Minister’s announcement, the Welsh Gender Service (WGS) was created and is based at St David’s in Cardiff with Local Gender Teams (LGT) based in each health board. The Local Gender Teams are made up on a doctor, who prescribes hormone therapies and a speech and language therapist, who are both located closer to home.

The Welsh Gender Service are a multidisciplinary administrative and clinical team, made up of Consultants, Gender Clinicians, Clinical Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists and Management. We all work together to provide holistic patient-centred care focussing on hormonal, psychological, and social aspects of transition.

The Welsh Gender Service does not provide care or advice to anyone under the age of 18 years old. However, we will receive referrals for patients from the age of 17.5. The referrer and patient must understand that responsibility for the patient remains with the referrer until the patient turns 18 years old and is accepted on to the Welsh Gender Service waiting list.

All patients referred to the Welsh Gender Service must be registered with a General Practitioner (GP) in Wales.

Virtual Consultations - Resources for Patients

The NHS Gender Dysphoria National Referral Support Service (GDNRSS)

When you and your clinical team agree you are ready for surgery, the GDNRSS will process your referral to your chosen surgical provider. They have a Single Point of Access support line that you can call for information about your referral, the status of your chosen provider and practical information such as travel and parking details, who can accompany you, what to take with you and where to report when you get there.

GDNRSS are open Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm.

Who are the GDNRSS and how do they manage your referral?

GDNRSS Support and Information Line: 01522 85 77 99

Surgery Information Leaflets

Labioplasty

Orchidectomy

Intestinal Vaginoplasty

Vaginoplasty

Top Surgery [Chest Wall Surgery]

The Welsh Gender Team

Dr John Dean (he/him)	Clinical Lead & Gender Clinician
Dr Sophie Quinney (she/her)	GP Gender Clinician
Dr Sarah Murjan (she/her)	Gender Specialist Gender Clinician
Dr Stuart Lorimer (he/him)	Gender Clinician
Dr Pete Taylor (he/him)	Consultant Endocrinologist
Dr Kate Nambiar (she/her)	Locum Consultant Endocrinologist
(She/her) Dr Ella Rafferty(She/her) Dr Ella RaffertyDr Ella Rafferty (she/her)	Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Elinor MacCormac (she/her)	Principal Practitioner Psychologist
Shannon Bakan (she/her)	Service Manager
Patricia Wolfenden (she/her)	Directorate Support Manager
Helen Rose (she/her)	Service Support Administrator
Nicole Thomas (she/her)	Clinic Coordinator
Carol Ann Falcon (she/her)	Directorate Support Officer

Local Gender Teams

View each Local Health Board's Local Gender team

Umbrella Cymru

Umbrella Cymru provides peer support to anyone on the waiting list for an appointment. This is an opportunity to receive regular contact from someone with lived experience of gender incongruence and transition processes. It will give you someone to talk to about how you’re feeling whilst waiting for your appointment, as well as a point of contact to request any additional support you might want or need.

If you wish to access this service you will be asked to provide consent by completing a consent form, and you will then be contacted by whichever medium you prefer. They will discuss the process with you and provide information on what services are available. If you don't consent for Umbrella Cymru to contact you at we will respect that, however please be assured that you can change your mind at any time. Find out more about the support available and the contact details you will need

Nick (he/him)	Director
Kirsty (she/her)	Social Worker - XIST Services Manager
Ray (they/them/he/him)	Peer Support Worker
Anna (she/her)	Peer Support Worker

Communication with WGS

WGS patients can contact the team via email or by telephone on: 029 2183 6619 if you have any administrative queries regarding:

Appointment times and dates
Receipt of paperwork/correspondence sent to you by the clinic
Other general administrative enquiries

We appreciate that the transition process can be anxiety provoking and stressful at times, and that waiting times can be frustrating. However, we would ask that you treat our administrative staff with care and respect. The WGS is a busy NHS service and our team are constantly working to the best of their ability to help you.

Downloads

Concerns and complaints

If you are unhappy with the treatment or care you are receiving, we would encourage you to raise your concerns as soon as possible, preferably to senior staff on duty at the time of an incident, or the service manager. Alternatively, please contact a member of the Concerns Department on 029 2074 4095 or 029 2074 3301, and they will be happy to discuss your concerns with you and pass them on to the relevant department. You can also email the team at concerns@wales.nhs.uk or download and complete a form here.

Useful links

Below are some links to organisations and legal information that you may find helpful: