Consultation by: NHS England
Healthwatch Birmingham & Solihull responded to NHS England’s consultation on the revised Children and Young People’s Gender Service Specification. We welcomed the holistic approach to assessing need, the National Provider Network’s role in consistency, and a separate pathway for prepubertal children. However, we raised concerns about flexibility, support for those using unregulated medication, and paediatric endocrinology capacity. We questioned safeguards for referrals outside specialist pathways and stressed that patient experience data must inform service quality metrics.
We welcomed holistic assessment and specialist pathways but raised concerns about system flexibility, service capacity, and transitions to adult services.
Healthwatch Birmingham & Solihull’s response
NHS England consulted on proposed updates to the Children and Young People’s Gender Service Specification.
Areas we welcomed
We welcomed:
• the holistic approach to assessing need
• the creation of a dedicated pathway for prepubertal children
• the role of the National Provider Network in supporting consistent care
Concerns we raised
We flagged concerns around:
• the flexibility of services to respond to individual needs
• supporting those who have accessed medication from unregulated sources
• capacity challenges in paediatric endocrinology
• 17yearolds having to return to GPs to move to adult waiting lists
• safeguards for those referred outside specialist pathways
Using patient experience in monitoring
We strongly encouraged inclusion of patient experience data in monitoring service quality.
| Children and Young People's Gender Service Specification Response | Download File (pdf 100.28 KB) |