What are Gender Clinics?
In the UK, people who are changing things linked to gender are supported by a set of specialist centres, often known as ‘gender identity clinics’ (GICs) or ”gender dysphoria clinics’ (GDCs), which offer formal diagnosis, psychological support, speech therapy, and access to other services like hormone medications and surgeries.
What do NHS Gender Clinics offer?
The services offered vary from clinic to clinic, but generally they offer assessment for hormone treatment and referral for gender confirming surgeries and hair removal, as well as initially monitoring hormone treatment and well-being in relation to gender dysphoria. Many GDCs offer counselling, peer support and speech therapy.
How can I access an NHS gender clinic?
Take a look at our Getting referred to a gender clinic page for more information on this.
NHS gender clinics
| Service | To be seen (in months) | To get hormones (in months) | Total wait for hormones (in months) | Referral |
| Aberdeen – Grampian Gender Identity Clinic | 24 | 12 | 36 | GP |
| Belfast – Brackenburn Clinic Gender Identity Service | 75 | ? | ? | GP |
| Belfast – KOI (young people) | 24 | ? | ? | GP |
| Cardiff – Gender Identity Wales | 15 | <12 | 12-25 | GP |
| Edinburgh – The Edinburgh Chalmers Gender Identity Clinic | 23 | ? | ? | GP |
| Exeter – Devon Partnership NHS Trust West of England Specialist Gender Identity Clinic | 88 | 12 | 100 | GP or self-referral |
| Glasgow – The Sandyford NHS Gender Identity Clinic (Adults) | 65 | ? | ? | GP or self-referral |
| Glasgow – The Sandyford NHS Gender Identity Clinic (Young People) | 58 | ? | ? | GP or self-referral |
| Inverness – Highland Gender Identity Service | 29 | ? | ? | GP |
| East of England – East of England Gender Service (Pilot clinic) | ? | ? | ? | See their website for eligibility criteria |
| Leeds – Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Gender Identity Service | 58 | 10 | 68 | GP or self-referral |
| London –The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust: Gender Identity Clinic for Adults | 61 | 10 | 71 | GP or self-referral |
| London – TransPlus (New style clinic) | ? | ? | ? | See their website for eligibility criteria |
| Manchester – Indigo Gender Service (New style clinic) | 22 | ? | ? | See their website for eligibility criteria |
| Merseyside – CMAGIC (Pilot clinic) | ? | ? | ? | See their website for referral criteria |
| Newcastle – Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust Northern Region Gender Dysphoria Service | ? | ? | ? | Not accepting new referrals |
| Northamptonshire – Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Gender Identity Clinic | 53 | 9 | 62 | GP or self-referral |
| Nottinghamshire – Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust The Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health | 27 | 11 | 38 | GP |
| Sheffield – Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust Gender Identity Service | 65 | 16 | 81 | GP |
| Sussex – Sussex Gender Service (Pilot clinic) | ? | ? | ? | See their website for eligibility criteria |
| The Northern Hub – for under 18s, coming soon | ||||
| The Southern Hub – for under 18s, coming soon |
About our waiting time data
Waiting time information shown on this page is taken from information given directly to genderkit.org.uk by the services or from information published on their website. The waiting time information was last updated in April 2024.
Waiting times indicate how long patients who have just been invited for an appointment have waited for. As demand is currently increasing over time, this means it is likely you will wait longer than the time shown on this page.
Transferring to a different waiting list
The following clinics will honour your original referral date if you transfer onto their waiting list. Please note, there are different arrangements for young people transferring to adult waiting lists.
- Cardiff – Welsh Gender Service
- Edinburgh – Chalmers Gender Identity Clinic
- Glasgow – Sandyford Gender Identity Clinic
- London -The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust: Gender Identity Clinic for Adults
This information was based on information on the websites of the services when it was last checked, but you may wish to confirm what rules would apply to you by contacting the gender service yourself before arranging a transfer to them.
What is a pilot or new style clinic?
There were a number of pilot clinics in England, some of these are now out of their pilot phase. The purpose of these clinics is to explore a more holistic and comprehensive model of how gender clinics can function, with patient agency centred more in the process.
These clinics generally have a much shorter wait, but are only open to people who’ve already been referred to another clinic, and who meet particular requirements. Waits vary, usually depending on how long you’ve been on the waiting list for the other clinic.
How much will it cost?
British citizens are able to access the NHS and HSC gender services for free. If you are not a British citizen, you may still be able to access these services for free, and more details can be found on genderkit.org.uk‘s Immigration page.
Patients in Wales being referred to gender services for children and young people will need to ask their GP to apply for funding from their local Health Board.
You may be able to get help with the cost of travelling to attending appointments at NHS or HSC gender services. Further information about travel costs can be found:
- on the NHS website (valid across the whole of the UK)
- on the Welsh Government website
- on the NGICNS website (Scotland only)
- on the HSC Northern Ireland website
More information about travel funding is also available on the London GIC website.
Where can I find more information?
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-to-find-an-nhs-gender-identity-clinic/
https://www.ngicns.scot.nhs.uk/gender-identity-clinics/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gender-dysphoria/
Errors or omissions
Is there something missing from this page? Have you spotted something that isn’t correct? E-mail transactualuk@gmail.com to let us know.
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This page is based on information originally posted on genderkit.org.uk with permission.
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