The UK’s only gender clinic for under 18s has been rated ‘inadequate’ by the country’s health watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which carried out an inspection at the centre due to concerns raised by healthcare professionals and the national children’s commissioner.
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust (which houses the Gender Identity Development Services/GIDS) was rated as ‘good’ in 2016, but according to the BBC the CQC has criticised the organisation for long waiting times and inaccessibility.
The inspection found there are over 4,600 young people on the waiting list for GIDS, with some having waited for more than two years for their first appointment.