National Gender Identity Healthcare Reference Group minutes: September 2022

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
• Adam Black, Nurse Consultant/Clinical Nurse Manager, NHS Lothian
• Neil Ferguson, Head of Planning, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Linsey Galbraith (guest), Principal Information Analyst, Public Health Scotland
• Dr Fiona Gibson, Clinician, NHS Highland
• Jane Harris, Head of Programme, Postgraduate and Post-Registration Education and Continuing Professional Development, NHS Education for Scotland
• Jennifer Jamieson, Service Manager, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Dr Amber Keenan, Clinical Lead, NHS Grampian
• Kathryn Kinnear, Service Manager, NHS Grampian
• Dr Anna Lamont, Medical Director, National Procurement Commissioning and Facilities, NHS National Services Scotland
• Kirstin Leath, Head of Health Equity and Equalities Unit, Scottish Government
• Kimberley MacInnes, Service Manager/Lead Nurse, NHS Highland
• Ryan McLeod, (deputising for Katrina Mitchell) Development Worker, LGBT Health and Wellbeing
• Dr Louise Melvin, Interim Clinical Lead, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• David Parker, Lead Clinician, National Gender Identity Clinical Network for Scotland
• Evelyn Sheerin, Parent representative, TransparentSees
• Vic Valentine, Manager, Scottish Trans Alliance
• Dr Fiona Wardell, Standards and Indicators Team Leader, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
• Dr Michelle Watts, Senior Medical Adviser – Primary Care, Scottish Government

Apologies

• Colin Briggs, Director of Strategic Planning, NHS Lothian
• Rhoda Macleod, Head of Sexual Health, Prison and Police Services, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Jenny McNicol, Acute Director of Nursing and Midwifery, NHS Grampian
• Dr Christine Mimnagh, CMAGIC Clinical Lead, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
• Katrina Mitchell, Development Worker, LGBT Health and wellbeing
• Dr Ruth Pearce, Lecturer, University of Glasgow
• Dr Sarah Weldon, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Mairi Watson, Information Consultant, Public Health Scotland

Items and actions

Welcome and introductions

Ewan Bell (EB) welcomed attendees to the sixth meeting of the National Gender Identity Healthcare Reference Group (the Group). Apologies were noted and deputies and guests welcomed, minutes of the previous meeting approved and completion of previous actions arising from the last meeting were noted.

It was noted that presentation from NHS Lothian strategic lead is postponed to a future meeting Group’s meeting.

EB noted the minutes of the previous meeting will be published on the Scottish Government website.

The Group was updated on the recruitment for the role of a Lived Experience Coordinator, who will become a member of the Group.

Scottish Government update

A verbal update on the current fiscal challenge across Scottish Government was provided.

It was confirmed good progress across work had been made to date since March 2022, in the context of progressing and associated commissioning of various workstreams as set out by the 2021 framework. It was recognised the work and role of the Group was moving into a new space, as workstreams are commissioned.

Forward look

EB highlighted much of the initial work on the Framework commitments has been completed or is commissioned and underway. Changes to the format of reporting to the Group to support members to provide oversight, comment and appropriate challenge were outlined and discussed and will be presented at the next meeting.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland – update

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) outlined a plan for work on developing national standards of care for this field, phases and processes involved, explaining what ‘standards’ do and do not include and how they are structured. HIS requested that the Group provide feedback and suggestions as appropriate.

A discussion took place across the proposed scope, objectives, implementation and representation across working groups which would develop these standards. Explanation was provided on how HIS would manage those processes.

The complexities of healthcare provision and engagement process, the need for comprehensive and sensitive stakeholder involvement and the importance of information sharing throughout the process were discussed. Effective and early collaboration with other parts of NHS Scotland was recognised as essential.

It was highlighted that while the process may seems long, the standards, when done well, can underpin governance and provide services with blueprint of what good practice looks like for the future.

The period of time assigned to consultation and engagement was commended as a merit and that it should be supported in view of the complexities of the gender identity healthcare landscape.

Update on review of the Gender Reassignment Protocol for Scotland 

An update was provided on ongoing work to the review and update the Gender Reassignment Protocol for Scotland and the agreed governance path.

It was confirmed that it will take further time to edit and compile the document before it is returned to the Chief Medical Officer. It is hoped this will take place before the end of the year.

Any other business

No further business was raised.