Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
1311. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the issue surrounding gender-affirming care wait times; and if members of the trans community will be consulted about this issue. [63696/22]
View answerAs the matter of wait times is an operational matter, I am referring this question to the HSE for part response.
The Government is committed to the development by the HSE of a well-governed and patient-centred health care service for adults and children in the transgender community, in line with the Programme for Government. A model of care for transgender children, adolescents and adults was developed by the HSE Quality Improvement Division. The HSE model of care is underpinned by a local response model including general practice, psychology and CAMHS, working with specialist mental health and endocrinology services. Complex cases would be referred onto tertiary specialist care. The model of care is partly implemented within community services. The model of care deals with services for children and adults. Children can be referred to paediatric up until the age of 18 years. An adult service is provided by the national gender service in St Colmcille’s Hospital. A steering committee which was established to examine the development of the HSE transgender identity services produced a report in 2020. This committee included representatives of all stakeholders, including advocacy representatives, and was chaired by Dr Siobhán Ni Bhriain on behalf of the chief clinical officer. The report acknowledged the additional funding made available to develop services in recent years. It also advised on the development of seamless interfaces between agencies providing gender services. The committee agreed a job description for a consultant psychiatrist in child and adolescent psychiatry in CHO 7 and CHI to develop the service for those aged under 18 (and to replace the current system of psychological support provided by the Tavistock Clinic). This consultant psychiatrist would develop and lead a MDT to support the delivery of gender identity services for those under 18. This position has been advertised twice but is not yet filled. The Minister for Health and the Minister for Mental Health and Older People held a constructive meeting with a number of clinicians from the National Gender Service. The Minister for Health also held a subsequent meeting with Noah Halpin from TENI. It is intended that a number of other meetings clinicians and stakeholders in this area will be held to hear the range of views and proposals. I believe the development of a service in Ireland for children and young people is essential. It is the priority of the Department of Health and the HSE to provide a transgender healthcare service that meets the needs of children and young people.
