Gender reassignment surgery could be carried out in Scotland for the first time under plans unveiled by the Scottish Government.
Ministers have published a framework which will guide improvements to NHS gender identity services north of the border following mounting concern they are currently inadequate.
Among the plans being looked at is a proposal to move services more locally – including gender reassignment surgery, which is currently carried out only in England.
The framework also proposes setting up a National Gender Identity Healthcare Reference Group which will overhaul current services and direct £9 million of public funding.
It also calls for shortening waiting times for treatment - which can take up the three years - better support for trans people, the development of national standards and improvements to data collection.
Campaigners have long called for better NHS gender identity service
On gender reassignment surgery, the framework states: “Under the governance of NHS England, the Gender Dysphoria National Referral Support Service manages referrals for gender reassignment surgery from all UK nations.
“No NHS gender reassignment surgery currently takes place in Scotland. We recognise the importance of accessing treatments locally where appropriate, as well as building resilience in provision.
“We have therefore committed in this Framework to look at the potential for providing gender reassignment surgeries in Scotland."
READ MORE: Scottish Government issues school guidance to support transgender pupils
Public Health Minister Maree Todd said that current waiting times were "unacceptable"
She added: “I am determined that through working with people using these services, organisations representing trans people, clinical groups and NHS Boards we will transform these services and improve the lives of trans people living in Scotland.”
Lorna Slater
Scottish Government Minister and Scottish Green Party Co-Leader Lorna Slater added: “Lengthy waiting times for trans people has a serious impact on their mental health. Protecting their right to essential healthcare is a vital part of our commitment to advancing equality for LGBTI people.
"This framework will improve services for a community that is often marginalised. We must continue to include the voices and expertise of trans people, as well as clinicians, academics, NHS Boards and LGBTI organisations in the work to improve these services.”
READ MORE: Ministers defend claims they acted unlawfully by changing the definition of 'woman'
Scottish Trans Alliance Manager Vic Valentine said: “We warmly welcome this strategic action framework, which alongside crisis funding also provides the foundations for making long lasting, significant change to gender identity healthcare that is so desperately needed.
“Trans people deserve to live happy, healthy lives, and to have access to the healthcare we need to make this possible.
“We look forward to contributing to work to transform these services, and in particular to the Scottish Government ensuring that trans people truly are at the heart of decisions made to do so – something that is absolutely crucial to making sure that this framework delivers on its aims.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article