Fears the NHS is ‘fast-tracking’ teens on the waiting list for treatment as adults at controversial gender clinic after bosses apologise to 17-year-olds for the ‘unacceptably long’ wait to get their first appointment

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Teenagers on the waiting list for a controversial gender clinic are being ‘fast-tracked’ for treatment as adults, it is feared.

NHS bosses have written to 17-year-olds apologising for the ‘unacceptably long’ time they have been in the queue to get their first appointment at the Tavistock’s Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS).

They have told the young people that as the scandal-hit clinic for children in London is being replaced next year, they can choose to be referred to an adult services for ‘gender incongruence’ instead.

But campaigners warn this means they will not receive therapy for possible mental health problems, and could be seen by support workers before clinicians.

One mother said: ‘Bumping vulnerable children up to fast-track adult services that follow an ideological model feels like it would cause rather than prevent problems. 

 Teenagers on the waiting list for a controversial gender clinic are being ‘fast-tracked’ for treatment as adults (stock photo)

‘It also adds massive costs – for interventions, lifetime medical care, and lawsuits.’

READ MORE: Children WON’T be banned from changing their gender identity at schools

Stephanie Davies-Arai, whose Transgender Trend website revealed the move, said older teenagers were ‘being invited on to the adult service waiting list without any exploration of issues that may have led to their gender-related distress’. 

She added: ‘But these problems don’t just go away when you reach the magic age of 17. What is NHS England thinking?’

The letter from James Palmer, national medical director of specialised commissioning at NHS England, said: ‘GIDS is currently not offering any new first assessment appointments.

‘As you are aged 17 years or over at the date of this letter you may now want to make a decision about whether you wish to be referred into an NHS adult gender incongruence clinic.’

An NHS spokesman said the letter was clear ‘it was for young people to decide together with their GP whether they should be referred into adult gender services’.

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