Waiting list/waiting times
We are working hard to increase capacity and address the waiting time issue. As information becomes available, we will post updates here.
Our current waiting times are:
As of February 2023 the person at the top of the waiting list for their initial assessment appointment has waited 60 months (5 years) for an appointment and is currently still awaiting appointment allocation.
As of February 2023 the person at the top of the waiting list for their second assessment with our Medical team (for diagnosis and to agree treatment plans) has waited 46 months (3 years and 10 months) to be seen since their initial assessment appointment (and a total of 71 months (5 years and 11 months) from their referral) and is currently still awaiting appointment allocation.
It is not known at this time whether these waiting times will increase or decrease in the future but we will update them every four months to keep you informed. We apologise for these lengthy waiting times and for any distress it may cause you.
We cannot predict waiting times because it is dependent on many factors such as:
- How many people are referred
- What staff resources we have available
- What needs people have once in the service (we have infrequent contact with some people, others need more input)
- The rate that people pass through the service (people need to go at a pace that is right for them)
- How long people have to wait for surgeries
Due to Covid-19 the waiting times have increased due to a reduction in the amount of appointments taking place and also because of delays in people accessing surgery.
If you are on treatment and are transferring your care from another adult NHS gender identity clinic, then the current wait time is about four months.
We ask that you please do not contact the service asking for further information on waiting times, as we are unable to provide anything more than is available here, and this takes up valuable administration time.
We do encourage you to contact the Peer Support Service – who can provide support and advice while you are waiting to be seen.
Appointments/non-attendance
It is important that you let us know as soon as possible, at least 24 hours in advance, if you are unable to attend your appointment. This is so that we can offer the spare slot to someone else. Unused slots add to waiting time for other people wishing to use the service. If you want to cancel an appointment for any reason, please email us: nrgds@cntw.nhs.uk
If you are repeatedly unable to attend appointments and we do not hear from you in advance to cancel the appointment, we will have to discharge you from our service. If you are not able to attend on repeated occasions, even if you let us know in advance, we may contact you to talk about whether this is the right time for you to use the service.
Unfortunately, some people do not attend for their appointments without letting us know in advance. From April 2021 to March 2022 a total of 2,200 new and follow up appointments were booked. Of this number, 266 appointments were not attended – which equates to 12% of appointments.
Due to the high demand for our service, we are unable to continue to offer appointments to people who are unable to engage with us. For this reason, those who do not attend for three consecutive appointments will be discharged from the service. It is important to note that failure to attend and subsequent discharge may affect your treatment pathway, including any surgery we have referred you for.