Gender Construction Kit Logo

UK service wait times

Updated Dec 2023

This is the most recent information we have been provided with by each organisation as of 2023-12-01.

Important notes

Caveat

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.

Waiting time information shown on this page is taken from information given directly to us by the services or published on their website.

Many gender services currently have very lengthy wait lists, and it can be very difficult to be waiting for so long. You can find ways you can get help while you are waiting on our Mental Health page.

tickFree UK-based services

You can access these gender services for free by asking your GP to make a referral. However, these services have significant waiting lists, and may require a wait of several years before being seen. They will also only accept you as a patient if you are registered with a GP in a specific area.

Service
To be
seen
(in months)
To get
hormones
(in months)
Total
(in months)
Logo of Brackenburn Clinic Regional Gender Identity Service

Belfast

more info
59 A grey question mark A grey question mark
Logo of Knowing Our Identity Gender Identity Development Service

Belfast KOI

more info
24 A grey question mark A grey question mark
Logo of Welsh Gender Service

Cardiff

more info
15 <12 12-25
Logo of Chalmers Gender Identity Clinic

Edinburgh

more info
23 A grey question mark A grey question mark
Logo of West of England Specialist Gender Identity Clinic

Exeter

more info
87 12 99
Logo of Sandyford Gender Identity Service

Glasgow

more info
55 A grey question mark A grey question mark
Logo of Sandyford Youth Gender Identity Service

Glasgow Youth

more info
42 A grey question mark A grey question mark
Logo of Grampian Gender Identity Clinic

Grampian

more info
24 12 36
Logo of Highland Gender Identity Service

Inverness

more info
29 A grey question mark A grey question mark
Logo of Leeds Gender Identity Service

Leeds

more info
57 10 67
Logo of Tavistock and Portman Gender Identity Clinic

London GIC

more info
60 10 70
Logo of Tavistock and Portman Gender Identity Development Service

London GIDS

more info
Not accepting new patients
Logo of TransPlus

London TransPlus

more info
A grey question mark A grey question mark A grey question mark
Logo of Northern Region Gender Dysphoria Service

Newcastle

more info
Not accepting new patients
Logo of Northamptonshire Gender Identity Clinic

Northants

more info
53 9 62
Logo of The Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health

Nottingham

more info
23 11 34
Logo of Porterbrook Clinic Gender Identity Service

Sheffield

more info
62 16 78
Logo of The Northern Hub

The Northern Hub

more info
Opening in 2024
Logo of The Southern Hub

The Southern Hub

more info
Opening in 2024

Youth services: As of October 2023, the wait status for children and young people’s gender services is:

Longest wait
First apts
per month
Queue length
England & Wales 5 years 0 7902+ (source)
Scotland 4.5 years 0 1179 (source)
Northern Ireland 2 years 0.5 45 (source)

Information about referrals for under 17s in England and Wales can be found on the Arden and GEM website.

arrowTransfers

NHS gender services vary in how they handle wait times for patients transferring from the wait list of another NHS gender service. The following table shows whether your original referral date will be honoured if you transfer to each service. This information was based on information on the websites of the services when we 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.

Service
from
youth
wait list
from
any NHS
wait list
between
UK
nations
Logo of Brackenburn Clinic Regional Gender Identity Service

Belfast

more info
A grey question markA grey question markA grey question mark
Logo of Knowing Our Identity Gender Identity Development Service

Belfast KOI

more info
A grey question markA grey question markA grey question mark
Logo of Welsh Gender Service

Cardiff

more info
A green tick signA green tick signA grey question mark
Logo of Chalmers Gender Identity Clinic

Edinburgh

more info
A grey question markA green tick signA grey question mark
Logo of West of England Specialist Gender Identity Clinic

Exeter

more info
A green tick signA red X signA grey question mark
Logo of Sandyford Gender Identity Service

Glasgow

more info
A green tick signA green tick signA grey question mark
Logo of Sandyford Youth Gender Identity Service

Glasgow Youth

more info
A grey question markA grey question markA grey question mark
Logo of Grampian Gender Identity Clinic

Grampian

more info
A grey question markA grey question markA grey question mark
Logo of Highland Gender Identity Service

Inverness

more info
A grey question markA grey question markA grey question mark
Logo of Leeds Gender Identity Service

Leeds

more info
A grey question markA grey question markA grey question mark
Logo of Tavistock and Portman Gender Identity Clinic

London GIC

more info
A green tick signA red X signA grey question mark
Logo of Tavistock and Portman Gender Identity Development Service

London GIDS

more info
A grey question markA grey question markA grey question mark
Logo of TransPlus

London TransPlus

more info
A grey question markA green tick signA grey question mark
Logo of Northern Region Gender Dysphoria Service

Newcastle

more info
A green tick signA green tick signA grey question mark
Logo of Northamptonshire Gender Identity Clinic

Northants

more info
A green tick signA red X signA grey question mark
Logo of The Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health

Nottingham

more info
A grey question markA red X signA grey question mark
Logo of Porterbrook Clinic Gender Identity Service

Sheffield

more info
A green tick signA red X signA grey question mark
Logo of The Northern Hub

The Northern Hub

more info
A grey question markA grey question markA grey question mark
Logo of The Southern Hub

The Southern Hub

more info
A grey question markA grey question markA grey question mark

There are also several private gender services which charge fees but which may have significantly shorter waiting lists. You may wish to use these services while on the waiting list for an NHS service. It can overwhelming trying to choose which gender service to be referred to, but you can find useful tips on how to choose on our Choosing a Gender Service page.

Note that while some services will see patients younger than 18 for an assessment, not all will offer hormone therapy. You may wish to contact services to find out if they are willing to prescribe to under 18s before paying money to a service.

Magnifying glass iconDetailed information

Logo of Brackenburn Clinic Regional Gender Identity ServiceBelfast

Brackenburn

https://belfasttrust.hscni.net/service/regional-gender-identity-service/

Northern Ireland residents only

First Seen

59

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

(source) - Jul '22

Hormones

A grey question mark

months additional minimum wait for HRT

Total

A grey question mark

average minimum total time to hormones

Transfers

A grey question mark

is original referral date kept for transfers?

Logo of Knowing Our Identity Gender Identity Development ServiceBelfast KOI

KOI

https://belfasttrust.hscni.net/service/knowing-our-identity/

Northern Ireland residents only

First Seen

24

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

(source) - Oct '23

Logo of Welsh Gender ServiceCardiff

Welsh Gender Service

https://gender.wales/

Wales GP only

First Seen

15

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

(source) - Nov '23

Hormones

+<12

months additional minimum wait for HRT

(requested)

Total

=12-25

average minimum total time to hormones

Transfers

A green tick sign

is original referral date kept for transfers?

(requested)

Waits for hormone therapy prescribing will usually vary by which NHS Wales Health Board you are part of.

Logo of Chalmers Gender Identity ClinicEdinburgh

Chalmers

https://www.lothiansexualhealth.scot/gender-identity-clinic/

Borders, Fife, or Lothian GP only

First Seen

23

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

(source) - Nov '23

Hormones

A grey question mark

months additional minimum wait for HRT

(source)

Total

A grey question mark

average minimum total time to hormones

Transfers

A green tick sign

is original referral date kept for transfers?

(source)

Logo of West of England Specialist Gender Identity ClinicExeter

West of England

https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/our-services/gender-identity

England GP only

First Seen

87

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

(source) - Oct '23

Hormones

+12

months additional minimum wait for HRT

(source) - Apr '21

Total

=99

average minimum total time to hormones

Transfers

A red X sign

is original referral date kept for transfers?

(source) - Mar '21

The service is currently focusing resources on people who have already had their first appointment, and while they are accepting new appointments, are not currently seeing patients for a first appointment and do not know when this will resume.

Logo of Sandyford Gender Identity ServiceGlasgow

Sandyford

https://www.sandyford.scot/sexual-health-services/gender-dysphoria-service-at-sandyford/gender-adult-service/

Scotland GP only

First Seen

55

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

(source) - Dec '22

Hormones

A grey question mark

months additional minimum wait for HRT

(source)

Total

A grey question mark

average minimum total time to hormones

Transfers

A green tick sign

is original referral date kept for transfers?

(source)

Logo of Sandyford Youth Gender Identity ServiceGlasgow Youth

Sandyford Youth

https://www.sandyford.scot/sexual-health-services/gender-dysphoria-service-at-sandyford/gender-young-people-service/

Scotland GP only

First Seen

42

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

(source) - Oct '23

Logo of Grampian Gender Identity ClinicGrampian

https://www.ngicns.scot.nhs.uk/gender-identity-clinics/

Grampian, Orkney and Shetland GP only

First Seen

24

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

(source) - Aug '23

Hormones

+12

months additional minimum wait for HRT

(source) - Aug '23

Total

=36

average minimum total time to hormones

Transfers

A grey question mark

is original referral date kept for transfers?

Logo of Highland Gender Identity ServiceInverness

Highland GIS

https://www.highlandsexualhealth.co.uk/gender-identity/gender-identity

Highland GP only

First Seen

29

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

(source) - Oct '23

Hormones

A grey question mark

months additional minimum wait for HRT

Total

A grey question mark

average minimum total time to hormones

Transfers

A grey question mark

is original referral date kept for transfers?

Logo of Leeds Gender Identity ServiceLeeds

https://www.leedsandyorkpft.nhs.uk/our-services/services-list/gender-identity-service/

England GP only

First Seen

57

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

(source) - Nov '23

Hormones

+10

months additional minimum wait for HRT

(source) - May '23

Total

=67

average minimum total time to hormones

Transfers

A grey question mark

is original referral date kept for transfers?

More detailed information about wait times is available on the Leeds GIS website.

Logo of Tavistock and Portman Gender Identity ClinicLondon GIC

Tavistock

https://gic.nhs.uk/

UK GP only

First Seen

60

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

(source) - Oct '23

Hormones

+10

months additional minimum wait for HRT

(source) - Oct '23

Total

=70

average minimum total time to hormones

Transfers

A red X sign

is original referral date kept for transfers?

(source) - Apr '21

Logo of Tavistock and Portman Gender Identity Development ServiceLondon GIDS

Tavistock

https://gids.nhs.uk/

UK GP only

For referrals from Wales, the referring clinician will have to make a funding request to the local Health Board before making a referral.

Logo of TransPlusLondon TransPlus

http://wearetransplus.co.uk/

Very limited access: more info

First Seen

A grey question mark

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

Hormones

A grey question mark

months additional minimum wait for HRT

Total

A grey question mark

average minimum total time to hormones

Transfers

A green tick sign

is original referral date kept for transfers?

TransPlus have an in-house pharmacy, so prescriptions for hormones can be filled immediately.

Logo of Indigo Gender ServiceManchester

Indigo

https://www.indigogenderservice.uk/

Very limited access: more info

This clinic accepts transfers from other clinics only. Wait times will vary.

Logo of Cheshire and Merseyside Adult Gender Identity CollaborativeMerseyside

CMAGIC

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/our-services/liverpool/sexual-health/cmagic-cheshire-and-merseyside-adult-gender-identity-collaborative

Very limited access: more info

This clinic accepts transfers from other clinics only. Wait times will vary.

Logo of East of England Gender ServiceNCTH EOE

https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/east-of-england-gender-service

East of England only

This clinic accepts transfers from other clinics only. Wait times will vary.

Logo of Northern Region Gender Dysphoria ServiceNewcastle

https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/services/northern-region-gender-dysphoria-service-specialist-service-walkergate-park/

England GP only

NRGDS is not currently accepting referrals as of Aug 2023 (more information

Logo of Northamptonshire Gender Identity ClinicNorthants

Daventry

https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/gic/

England GP only

First Seen

53

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

(source) - Oct '23

Hormones

+9

months additional minimum wait for HRT

(source) - Oct '23

Total

=62

average minimum total time to hormones

Transfers

A red X sign

is original referral date kept for transfers?

(source) - Jul '21

Logo of The Nottingham Centre for Transgender HealthNottingham

https://ncth.nhs.uk/

England GP only

First Seen

23

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

(source) - Oct '23

Hormones

+11

months additional minimum wait for HRT

(source) - Oct '23

Total

=34

average minimum total time to hormones

Transfers

A red X sign

is original referral date kept for transfers?

Logo of Porterbrook Clinic Gender Identity ServiceSheffield

Porterbrook

http://shsc.nhs.uk/service/gender-identity-service/

England GP only

First Seen

62

months average wait for 1st assessment appt

(source) - Sep '23

Hormones

+16

months additional minimum wait for HRT

(source) - Oct '23

Total

=78

average minimum total time to hormones

Transfers

A red X sign

is original referral date kept for transfers?

(source) - Dec '21

Logo of Sussex Gender ServiceSussex

https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/our-services/specialist-services/sussex-gender-service

Very limited access: more info

This clinic accepts transfers from other clinics only. Wait times will vary.

Logo of The Northern HubThe Northern Hub

https://www.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/services/clinical-support/national-referral-support-service-for-the-nhs-gender-incongruence-service-for-children-and-young-people/

UK GP only

For referrals from Wales, the referring clinician will have to make a funding request to the local Health Board before making a referral.

Logo of The Southern HubThe Southern Hub

https://www.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/services/clinical-support/national-referral-support-service-for-the-nhs-gender-incongruence-service-for-children-and-young-people/

UK GP only

For referrals from Wales, the referring clinician will have to make a funding request to the local Health Board before making a referral.

References

    Errors and omissions

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