Gender Recognition Act review
Deputy Coppinger raised delays and barriers in trans healthcare and asked when legislation would be brought forward to match best practice. The Minister said a comprehensive review had just been completed, the report would be published, and draft legislation would likely go to Cabinet in the autumn.
A review of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 is taking place. The Act allows trans and non-binary people to legally determine their own gender. However, when seeking to transition medically trans and non-binary people are being forced to jump through massive hoops, sit on impossibly long waiting lists or go abroad for healthcare, something we said was no longer acceptable. Many people are going through mental torture waiting two to three years. When will the Government bring in legislation to bring us in line with best practice and World Health Organisation, WHO, guidelines in our treatment of transgender people? The WHO states that this is not a health condition yet we are forcing transgender people to go through psychiatric evaluation before they can get hormone or other follow-up. The Government claims that we are following World Professional Association for Transgender Health, WPATH, guidelines but we still have not abolished the psychiatric model of care in favour of informed consent. Teenagers are being forced to wait for years because of the delays in the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. Will the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection agree to meet the This is Me Campaign group which is campaigning on this issue, and which will hold a protest on Saturday at 4 p.m.? Will we implement WPATH and recruit and educate more doctors? There is one endocrinologist dealing with thousands of people seeking treatment.
Comment on this
I can only assume from the way the Deputy has asked the question that she may not be aware that we have just gone through a very comprehensive review of the Gender Recognition Act 2015. The report was sent to me only last week. I am nearly finished reading it and will commence a meeting-----
Comment on this
I am concerned about the health care issues.
Comment on this
The review of the Act encompasses all the issues and challenges facing that particular community. The only thing I can agree to today is that once I have finished reviewing the report I will issue it and publish it before the House. I will probably bring a memo to Cabinet in the autumn regarding draft legislation.
Comment on this
Does it get rid of the psychiatric model of care?
Comment on this
The Deputy will see the recommendations in the report.
Comment on this
Does it, "Yes" or "No"?
Comment on this
The Deputy will be able to see the recommendations in the report when it is published in full
Comment on this
We are lagging way behind other countries.