National Gender Identity Healthcare Reference Group minutes: June 2024

Attendees and apologies

• Dr Ewan Bell, (Co-chair), Associate Medical Director, NHS Dumfries and Galloway
• Professor Nicola Steedman, (Co-chair), Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Government (observer)
• Professor Graham Ellis, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Government
• Adam Black, Nurse Consultant/Clinical Nurse Manager Sexual & Reproductive Health, Chalmers Gender Identity Clinic, NHS Lothian
• Kerry Cairns, Service Manager, Elmwood Gender Identity Clinic, NHS Grampian
• Dr Kate Fraser, Counselling Psychologist, Elmwood Gender Identity Clinic, NHS Grampian
• Linsey Galbraith, Principal Information Analyst, Public Health Scotland
• Jane Harris, Head of Programme, Postgraduate and Post-registration Education and Continuing Professional Development, NHS Education for Scotland
• Catriona Johnson, Associate Director, NHS National Services Scotland
• Dr Amber Keenan, Clinical Lead, Gender and Sexual Health Services, NHS Highland
• Jennifer Layden, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
• Kimberley MacInnes, Service Manager, Raigmore Gender Identity Clinic, NHS Highland
• Rhoda Macleod, Head of Sexual Health, Prison and Police Services, Sandyford Gender Clinic, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Dr Christine Mimnagh, CMAGIC Clinical Lead, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
• David Parker, Senior Educator, NHS Education for Scotland
• Dr Ruth Pearce, Lecturer, University of Glasgow
• Dr Alison Poupart, Interim Consultant Clinical Psychologist, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Dr Craig Wheelans, National Medical Advisor, Specialist Healthcare Commissioning, National Networks & National Planning, NHS National Services Scotland
• Representatives PolicyScribe/Horizons Research
• Lived Experience Coordinator
• Representative, * LGBT Health and Wellbeing
• Representative, * LGBT Youth Scotland
• Representative, Transparentsees
• Scottish Government Secretariat

 

Apologies

• Colin Briggs, Director of Strategic Planning, NHS Lothian
• Neil Ferguson, Director, West of Scotland Regional Planning
• Dr Susan Rooney, Clinical Lead, Sandyford Gender Identity Clinic NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Dr Fiona Wardell, Standards and Indicators Team Lead, Health Improvement Scotland
• Representative, Scottish Trans

Items and actions

Welcome

Ewan Bell (EB) welcomed attendees to the seventeenth meeting of the National Gender Identity Healthcare Reference Group (the Group). Apologies were noted.

EB welcomed the representatives from PolicyScribe and Horizons Research, and highlighted that Dr Amber Keenan will be joining the Group in her capacity as the new clinical lead for the NHS Highland service.

Minutes of the previous meeting were approved and EB noted that the minutes will be published online following the General Election, in accordance with Scottish Government pre-election guidance.

It was noted actions arising from 22 February 2024 meeting will be addressed as part of the policy update.

EB provided a brief overview of the UK Government restrictions on the prescribing of GnRH analogues that came into effect on 3 June 2024.

Members were reminded of the terms of reference for the Group in relation to not sharing papers or emails beyond the membership, especially in light of recent media interest.

Policy Update/Risk Register

The Scottish Government provided an update on progress of current workstreams and highlighted changes to the risk register.

It was highlighted that Scottish Government are aware that there are still Health Board funding allocations for 2024-2025 that had not been confirmed with Health Boards through an allocation letter and assured members that funding is progressing through internal approval processes.

Patient and professional information

Following on from the Group’s agreement at the February meeting, the Scottish Government policy team have been scoping out the possibilities for producing some patient-facing materials explaining the various workstreams being overseen by the Group.

Possible options, costings and timescales were discussed.

It was highlighted that a clinical expert, or group of clinical experts, would be required to support this work if it is to be progressed. The Group were asked to consider suggestions as to who could best fulfil this role.

Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) – update on national standards for gender identity healthcare

HIS provided an update to the Group on the progress of the development of HIS national standards for gender identity healthcare,  which are in the final development phase, and their implementation plan.

Consideration is currently being given to all consultation comments prior to the standards being submitted to the editorial panel for quality assurance prior to publication.

HIS thanked all those who have contributed to the development of these standards.

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) – update on Knowledge and Skills Framework

NES provided an update the Group on the progress of the Knowledge and Skills Framework as they move to the final stages and are looking to coordinate publication with the HIS standards.

An outline of work underway to scope education opportunities currently available in this area was given.

It was noted there is limited resource currently available for training in this area, NES is considering how current resources can be best utilised for the improvement of services in NHS Scotland.

Update on Chief Medical Officer Multi-Disciplinary Team (CMO MDT)

Professor Graham Ellis noted work is progressing well and on track to provide their update.

It was reiterated that the CMO MDT are not carrying out a review of the final report from the Cass Review, rather taking this opportunity to look forward to see how the recommendations can be used as appropriate to improve service delivery in NHS Scotland.

Challenges and possibilities for moving forward were discussed, with continued awareness of resourcing and capability challenges facing relevant services.

Evaluation update

Representatives from PolicyScribe/Horizons Research provided an update on their work and plans to evaluate the potential impact of Scottish Government funding to NHS Health Boards for work to implement their plans to improve access to and delivery of, gender identity services.

The final report exploring learnings and future considerations will be presented in October 2024.

The evaluation team thanked those who have given their time to support this evaluation process.

Gender Identity Clinic (GIC) service development day

A brief outline was provided regarding a planned development day for adult gender identity clinic services. A mixture of speakers and facilitated discussions have been organised.

AOB

EB reflected on the updates of this meeting and thanked everyone for their hard work and contributions.

It was noted that the Secretariat proposes an update to the Terms of Reference in light of the end of the Bute House Agreement. This will be drafted and circulated with papers ahead of the August meeting.

The next meeting of the Group was confirmed for 08 August 2024.

No other business was raised and the meeting was closed.