The Government is committed to the development by the HSE of a well-governed and patient-centered 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.
In 2020, a steering committee produced a report on the development of HSE transgender identity 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, which would replace the system of psychological support provided by the Tavistock Clinic. The consultant psychiatrist would develop and lead a MDT to support the delivery of gender identity services. The consultant psychiatrist post has been advertised but is yet to be filled.
The HSE is reviewing the NHS 'Cass' report on Tavistock and assessing the potential impact for existing pathways of care and service delivery. As part of this, the HSE is actively seeking services in other countries to replace the Tavistock Clinic. Fidelity with the clinical model of care approved by the HSE is essential in advance of considering alternative referral routes. The HSE has also directly engage with Professor Cass in relation to her report. A report is expected shortly from the HSE Chief Clinical Officer.
I support the work of the HSE to develop a well-governed and patient-centered healthcare service for adults and children in the transgender community and I will engage with the Minister for Health, my fellow ministers of state and relevant stakeholders to achieve this objective.
