Updated Jun 2022
This is the most recent information we have been provided with by each organisation as of 2022-06-12.
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.
Free 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) |
Transfers prioritised? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Belfastmore info | <47 | 
|
| |
Belfast KOImore info | 3 |
|
| |
Cardiffmore info | 24-28 |
|
| |
Edinburghmore info | 36 |
|
| |
Exetermore info | 71 | 12 | 83 |  |
Glasgowmore info | 48 |
|
| |
Glasgow Youthmore info | 36 |
|
| |
Grampianmore info | 18 |
|
| |
Invernessmore info | >7 |
|
| |
Leedsmore info | 44 | 16 | 60 | |
London GICmore info | 52 | 18 | 70 | |
London GIDSmore info | 31 |
|
| |
Newcastlemore info | 50 | 39 | 89 | |
Northantsmore info | 49 | 8 | 57 | |
Nottinghammore info | 27 | 3-6 | 30-33 | |
Sheffieldmore info | 49 | 18 | 67 | |
Youth services: note that the wait shown for GIDS is an average wait, and your actual wait may be considerably longer or shorter than that shown above. Recent waits for GIDS patients (2021) have in some cases been as long as 38 months 1. GIDS patients seeking puberty blockers will be referred to the UCLH paediatric endocrinology unit, which may entail an additional wait to be seen, and an independent Multi-Professional Review Group may have to be held to consider your case which can cause a further additional delay. After prescribing puberty blockers, GIDS require a further wait of at least a year before prescribing cross-sex hormones 2.
Paid UK-based services
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.
Service |
To be seen (in months) |
|---|---|
Harley Street Gender Clinic | 6 |
Dr Lenihan | 10 |
GenderCare | 1-9 |
GenderDoctors | 1-2 |
London Transgender Clinic | 6 |
Northern Gender Network | 5 |
YourGP are currently not accepting new referrals as of July 2021. Kelly Psychology are currently not accepting new referrals and will not be until at least June 2022.
Detailed information
Belfast
Brackenburn
https://belfasttrust.hscni.net/service/regional-gender-identity-service/Northern Ireland residents only
Hormones
months additional minimum wait for HRT
Total
average minimum total time to hormones
Transfers
are transfers from other NHS wait lists prioritised?
Belfast KOI
KOI
https://belfasttrust.hscni.net/service/knowing-our-identity/Northern Ireland residents only
Cardiff
Welsh Gender Service
https://gender.wales/Wales GP only
Total
average minimum total time to hormones
Edinburgh
Chalmers
https://www.lothiansexualhealth.scot/gender-identity-clinic/Borders, Fife, or Lothian GP only
Exeter
West of England
https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/our-services/gender-identityEngland GP only
Total
=83
average minimum total time to hormones
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.
Glasgow
Sandyford
https://www.sandyford.scot/sexual-health-services/gender-identity-service/Scotland GP only
Glasgow Youth
Sandyford Youth
https://www.sandyford.scot/sexual-health-services/gender-identity-service/Scotland GP only
Grampian
Grampian, Orkney and Shetland GP only
First Seen
18
months average wait for 1st assessment appt
Hormones
months additional minimum wait for HRT
Total
average minimum total time to hormones
Transfers
are transfers from other NHS wait lists prioritised?
Inverness
Highland GIS
https://www.highlandsexualhealth.co.uk/gender-identity/gender-identityHighland GP only
Hormones
months additional minimum wait for HRT
Total
average minimum total time to hormones
Transfers
are transfers from other NHS wait lists prioritised?
Currently not processing new patients, but will accept them onto wait list. Wait time information is an estimated wait, not the time waited by patients currently being seen
Leeds
https://www.leedsandyorkpft.nhs.uk/our-services/services-list/gender-identity-service/England GP only
Total
=60
average minimum total time to hormones
Transfers
are transfers from other NHS wait lists prioritised?
More detailed information about wait times is available on the Leeds GIS website.
London 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.
London TransPlus
http://wearetransplus.co.uk/Very limited access: more info
This clinic accepts transfers from other clinics only. Wait times will vary.
TransPlus have an in-house pharmacy, so prescriptions for hormones can be filled immediately.
Manchester
Indigo
https://www.indigogenderservice.uk/Very limited access: more info
This clinic accepts transfers from other clinics only. Wait times will vary.
Merseyside
CMAGIC
https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/our-services/liverpool/sexual-health/cmagic-cheshire-and-merseyside-adult-gender-identity-collaborativeVery limited access: more info
This clinic accepts transfers from other clinics only. Wait times will vary.
NCTH EOE
https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/east-of-england-gender-serviceEast of England only
This clinic accepts transfers from other clinics only. Wait times will vary.
Newcastle
https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/services/northern-region-gender-dysphoria-service-specialist-service-walkergate-park/England GP only
Nottingham
http://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/nottingham-centre-for-transgender-healthEngland GP only
Hormones
+3-6
months additional minimum wait for HRT
Total
=30-33
average minimum total time to hormones
Transfers
are transfers from other NHS wait lists prioritised?
References
- 1.Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust (2022) “‘GIDS Wait Times - Freedom of Information Request.” Link
- 2.Gender Identity Development Service (2022) “‘Puberty and physical intervention.’” Link
Errors and omissions
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