COVID-19 & Gender Identity Clinics

This page lists information about gender identity clinics (GICs) in the UK and their current services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This page was last revised on 18/09/20.

Table of Contents:

 

Overview

Where possible, we list, for each clinic:

  • Contact details
  • Whether a clinic is currently offering appointments
  • Whether a clinic is currently seeing new patients from the waiting list
  • Whether a clinic is currently recommending new hormone prescriptions
  • Estimated first appointment waiting time
  • Other services available
  • Official information
  • Where we  get our information from

This table summarises the current situation:

This table shows whether clinics are offering Appointments by 📞 phone or 💻 video. Even when a clinic says it is not providing appointments, if you are expecting one we recommend contacting them anyway, as the situation may change. A ~ tilde indicates mixed information from the GIC and a ❓ question mark indicates unknown information. All clinics have some provision to maintain care for existing patients, but only those with a Covid-19 Info Update ✔️ have detailed this publicly.

Most clinics are not doing intake for New Patients from the waiting list (❌), but some are (✔️). Most clinics are not recommending New Prescriptions for hormones during the lockdown (❌), but some may (✔️), and all are maintaining existing prescriptions. This means that most medical transitions are not currently progressing.

Waiting Times are a pre-pandemic estimated minimum wait to first appointment and are based on patient reports. Clinics which are not seeing or progressing new patients will now have a longer wait. Belfast was already not seeing new patients before the pandemic. Most patients will have a further wait after first appointment before treatment begins, but this depends on their history and needs and on the clinic.

Information has been collated from GIC websites, emailing GICs, and community information-sharing. We have done our best to double-check information. Updates and corrections are welcome to transhealthuk[at]riseup.net.

 

Clinics

England

Tavistock and Portman GIC (for over 18s)
(aka Charing Cross, CX)
London

Address: 179-183 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, W6 8QZ

Phone: 0208 938 7590

Fax: 0208 181 4506

Email:

Appointments: No face-to-face appointments. No new endocrinologist appointments. Videocall appointments are available for all patients, with phone appointments provided where this is not possible.

Seeing new patients? We have heard reports that the clinic is seeing new patients from the waiting list, but have not confirmed this with the clinic.

Recommending new prescriptions? Hormone and surgery referrals will only be made following videocall appointments, and only after lockdown is eased allowing for in-person team meetings. They do not currently state when this will be.

First appointment waiting time: 32+ months to first appointment.

Official information

Source for our information: Their website, and information from patients. Last updated July 1st. We are currently asking this clinic by email for further information.

 

Tavistock and Portman GIDS (under 18s)
London

Address: GIDS, The Tavistock Centre, 20 Belsize Lane, London, NW3 5BA

Phone: 020 8938 2030/1

Email: gids@tavi-port.nhs.uk / gic.springsummer@nhs.net

Appointments: No face-to-face appointments, already booked appointments will be done over the phone. No new endocrinologist appointments; already booked endocrinology appointments will be done over phone where possible.

Seeing new patients? Unknown

Recommending new prescriptions? Unknown

First appointment waiting time: 27+ months to first appointment.

Best way to contact: 

Official information:

Source for our information: Their website, and information from patients. Last updated July 1st. We are currently asking this clinic by email for further information.

 

TransPlus, 56 Dean Street
London

Address: 56 Dean Street, Soho, London, W1D 6AQ

Phone: 020 3315 9576

Email: transplusinfo@chelwest.nhs.uk

Special information: TransPlus is a new pilot project providing services to trans patients in a community health setting outside of the GIC. This project is strictly only for patients who were already registered with 56 Dean St before 1st January 2020, and who had already been referred to the GIC. They state that they will have an affirmative model, and much shorter waiting times than the GIC, but will still require a diagnosis to begin hormone treatment. There is extensive information on their website.

Appointments: Yes

Seeing new patients? Yes

Recommending new prescriptions? Yes

First appointment waiting time: Unknown, but this is expected to be significantly shorter than London GIC waiting times. If you are a patient here, please email us with your waiting time.

Official information: wearetransplus.co.uk.

Source for our information: Their website. Last updated August 28th.

 

Leeds and York Partnership Gender Identity Service
Leeds

Address: The Newsam Centre, Seacroft Hospital, York Road, Leeds, LS14 6WB

Phone: 0113 85 56346

Email: gid.lypft@nhs.net

Appointments: As of August 12th, all appointments cancelled due to the pandemic have now been rescheduled, and further appointments will be booked.

Seeing new patients? No.

Recommending new prescriptions? Yes.

First appointment waiting time: 30+ months to first appointment.

Official information: Semi-regularly updated on their website.

Source for our information: Their website, information from patients, and freedom of information request. Last updated September 19th.

 

Northamptonshire GIC
Daventry

Address: Danetre Hospital, H Block, London Road, Daventry, Northants, NN11 4DY

Phone: 01327 708147

Email: genderclinic@nhft.nhs.uk

Appointments: Yes, phone and video.

Seeing new patients? No.

Recommending new prescriptions? No. They plan to begin this in October.

First appointment waiting time: 43+ months.

Official information: Official webpage. No pandemic update provided.

Source for our information: Freedom of information request. Last updated 19/9/20.

 

Northern Region Gender Service
Newcastle

Address: Benfield House, Walkergate Park, Benfield Road, Newcastle, NE6 4PF

Phone: 0191 246 6800

Email: NRGDS@cntw.nhs.uk

Appointments: Yes, phone and video.

Seeing new patients? Yes.

Recommending new prescriptions? Yes.

Waiting time for first appointment: 32+ months.

Official information: Official webpage. No pandemic update provided.

Source for our information: Freedom of information request. Last updated September 19th.

 

Nottinghamshire Centre for Transgender Health
Nottingham

Address: The Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health, 12 Broad Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 3AL

Phone: 0115 876 0160

Email: not-tr.gender-services@nhs.net

Appointments: Existing and new appointments talking place by video and phone.

Seeing new patients? Yes, continuing to see new patients from the waiting list.

Recommending new prescriptions? Yes, continuing to recommend hormone treatments for patients.

First appointment waiting time: 36+ months.

Other services: The GIC advised us that “Additional support to our waiting list and caseload is now available through our support service provided in partnership with Gendered Intelligence. The service is now operating 5 days a week with an increased capacity.” Details can be found on the Gendered Intelligence website.

Official information: Appointments and services.

Source for our information: Primarily their website. We received an update confirming these services were still running in August. Last updated August 28th.

 

Porterbrook Clinic Gender Identity Service
Sheffield

Address: Porterbrook Clinic, Michael Carlisle Centre, 75 Osborne Road, Sheffield, S11 9BF

Phone: 01142716671

Email: porterbrook@shsc.nhs.uk

Appointments: No face-to-face appointments; phone and video appointments for already booked appointments where possible, otherwise appointments will be rescheduled.

Seeing new patients? Probably not, from the information we have been given,

Recommending new prescriptions? Unclear. They state they are not able to sign off and deal with consent for hormones or surgery over the phone. However, they are also offering video appointments, and other practices are diagnosing and prescribing via these, so we recommend asking for a video appointment where possible.

First appointment waiting time: 30+ months.

Other services: 24/7 telephone lines for urgent mental health support, advice and triage. These are for people of all ages and provide access to urgent mental health support. Call 0114 226 3636 if you require urgent mental health support. Call 0114 226 3797 if you work for an agency such as the police, ambulance service, local authority or other similar organisation and require urgent mental health support.

Official information: Appointments and services.

Source for our information: Primarily their website, with details confirmed via email. We are currently following up for a further update. Last updated June 8th.

 

West of England Specialised Gender Identity Service
(aka The Laurels)
Exeter

Address: The Laurels, 11-15 Dix’s Field, Exeter, EX1 1QA

Phone: 01392 677077

Email: dnp-tr.thelaurels@nhs.net@nhs.net 

Appointments: The majority of previously-booked face-to-face appointments are being done over the phone.

Seeing new patients? No. This has been the case since before the pandemic, August 2019.

Recommending new prescriptions? Yes, to existing patients only.

First appointment waiting time: 60+ months

Official information: Official webpage. No pandemic update online, but one was sent to existing patients by post in April.

Source for our information: Our Freedom of Information request. Last updated August 28th.

 

Scotland

Chalmers Gender Identity Clinic
Edinburgh

Address: 2A Chalmers Street, Edinburgh EH3 9ES

Phone: 0131 536 1070, 0131 536 2034

Appointments: Yes, all taking place by video or phone at the moment. We have also been informed that you can request an appointment by calling an unlisted number (not the main phone line): 0131 536 2034

Seeing new patients? Yes.

Recommending new prescriptions? Yes.

First appointment waiting time: 23+ months

Official information:

Source for our information: Their website. Last updated August 28th.

 

Sandyford Gender Identity Service
Glasgow

Address: 6 Sandyford Place, Glasgow, G37NB

Phone: 0141 211 8137 (8.30 – 11.30am Monday to Friday) for gender clinic, 0141 211 8130 for general clinic.

Email: sandyford@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Appointments: Yes

Seeing new patients? Yes

Recommending new prescriptions? Yes

First appointment waiting time: 31+ months

Other services: “If your emotional or mental well-being is being adversely affected by these specific temporary service changes, and it would be helpful to access some telephone support, please call Sandyford Counselling and Support Service on 1041 211 6700 (Mon – Fri, 9.30am to 4.00pm).”

Official information: Services and Appointments

Source for our information: Our Freedom of Information Request. Last updated August 28th.

Sandyford Gender Identity Service (Under 18s)
Glasgow

Address: 6 Sandyford Place, Glasgow, G37NB

Phone: 0141 211 8130

Email: youngpeoplegender.sandyford@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Appointments: Yes, for existing patients. A general clinic service is available for pre-booking, Tuesdays and Thursdays 4-7pm, but specialist gender care is unlikely to be available at these. If you have experience of using this service, please contact us with information.

Seeing new patients? No.

Recommending new prescriptions? Yes, for existing patients.

First appointment waiting time: 29+ months

Best way to contact: Contact the gender service for general enquiries and if you’re having difficulty obtaining your usual hormone medication from your GP. Email addresses are listed below.

Official information: Services and Appointments, Young People’s Clinic

Source for our information: Our Freedom of Information Request. Last updated August 28th.

 

Inverness Gender Identity Service
Inverness

Address: Highland Sexual Health Clinic, Zone 14, Raigmore Hospital, Old Perth Road, Inverness, IV2 3UJ

Telephone number: 01463 704202

Appointments: Yes, phone and video.

Seeing new patients? No.

Recommending new prescriptions? No.

First appointment waiting time: 14 months.

Official information: Official website. No public pandemic update online, but current patients were sent a letter.

Source for our information: Freedom of Information request. Last updated 19/9/20.

 

Grampian Gender Identity Clinic
Aberdeen

Address: Adult Psychiatry, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Cornhill Road, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZH

Telephone number: 01224 557651

Email address: Grampian.gic@nhs.net

Appointments: Yes, phone and video.

Seeing new patients? No.

Recommending new prescriptions? No.

First appointment waiting time: 14 months.

Official information: Official website. No public pandemic update online, but current patients were sent a letter.

Source for our information: Freedom of Information request. Last updated 19/9/20.

 

Northern Ireland

Brackenburn Clinic
Belfast

Address: Shimna House, Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Saintfield Road, Belfast, BT8 8BH

Telephone number: (028) 9504 0161

Email address: BrackenburnClinic@belfasttrust.hscni.net

Appointments: Telephone review appointments are being maintained at the moment with all patients on the active clinic caseload to provide support.

Seeing new patients? No.

Recommending new prescriptions? Yes.

First appointment waiting time: Due to staff shortages, the clinic had not been seeing new patients for some time prior to the pandemic. This situation will not change during the current crisis.

Official information: Official website. No pandemic update.

Source for our information: Emails with the clinic. last updated September 19th.

Knowing Our Identity (Under 18s)
Belfast

NB: We are not receiving replies from this clinic and have been unable to get information from the community about its service provision. If you know more, please get in touch.

Address: Beechcroft CAMHS Unit, Forster Green Hospital, 110 Saintfield Road, Belfast, BT8 6GR

Telephone number: 028 9063 8000

Email address: Unknown

Appointments: Unknown

Seeing new patients? Unknown

Recommending new prescriptions? Unknown

First appointment waiting time: Unknown

Official information: Official website. No pandemic update. We have filed a Freedom of Information request. Last updated August 28th.

 

Wales

Welsh Gender Service
Cardiff

Telephone number: 02921 836612

Email address: Cav.wgs_enquiries@wales.nhs.uk

Appointments: Existing patients are getting appointments by phone and video.

Seeing new patients? Yes.

Recommending new prescriptions? Yes.

First appointment waiting time: 30+ months

Official information: Services and Appointments

Source for our information: Their website. We have sent a Freedom of Information request. Last updated August 28th.

 

Help Us Update this Information

Our information is gathered from a mix of official updates, Freedom of Information requests and submissions from patients. Although GICs have begun to offer more public information since TransHealthUK began, there are still many gaps in their information, and they are often slow to provide updates. In some areas we have no information at all. We really welcome information updates from patients to transhealthuk@riseup.net

All information is welcome, but here are some particularly important questions:

  • Did you have a longer or shorter waiting time to first appointment than the information stated here or on the GIC website?
  • Can you confirm whether the GIC is recommending a new hormone prescription?
  • Have you had a rescheduled surgical referral, or no information about this?
  • Do you have other information which contradicts what we have here, or on the GIC website?

 

 

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