All referrals and assessments for gender-affirming surgery are poised to resume across NHS Lothian.
Temporary pauses have been lifted across the Board after extensive reviews were carried out to enhance patient safety and ensure adequate support and guidance is in place for everyone, including people with complex needs.
NHS Lothian paused all referrals to surgery and assessment appointments in May to allow the reviews to be carried out.
Six months later, in October, the restrictions for patients aged 25 and over were lifted following the completion of the evaluation of clinical governance arrangements.
The pause for patients aged 18-24 remained in place, but it has now also been lifted as part of a successful review of the processes, pathways and clinical governance arrangements.
NHS Lothian agreed the move at a meeting on November 19 which means that full service can resume. Referrals and assessments for patients aged 25 and over restarted in October 17 and November 18 respectively, while appointments will resume for those aged 18 to 24 as soon as they can be arranged.
The reviews were carried out to ensure that all patients of all ages are supported throughout each step of their journey as they move between departments, hospitals, other health boards in Scotland and trusts in England.
The working group, which was created to examine the pathways and procedures for patients aged 18 to 24, was expected to report back in January.
However, the group has expedited the review to help reduce delays for patients and the pause has been lifted. Work will continue in the background to further refine the processes while the group begins work to reaffirm the connections between clinical pathways and equality and human rights principles.
We know that any delay can be a source of real distress when waiting for assessment or treatment, and sincerely apologise to people who will experience an extension to their waiting time as a result of the reviews.
Patients who are currently waiting for assessment, will remain on the waiting list. Patients whose referrals were on hold will be reviewed and signed off and appointments will be restarted.
Referrals will then be sent on to the NHS Gender Dysphoria National Referral Support Services, the body that assesses and reviews surgical referrals in England.
Waiting lists at surgical centres are managed by the NHS organisations providing surgery and people will then be added to their waiting list once they have received and accepted the referral.
Please check the Lothian Sexual Health Website Gender Clinic FAQs for updates. We will post any new information as soon as possible. If you want to speak to someone, please call the Gender team secretaries on 0131 536 1570. They will arrange for a member of the team to call you back.