Record High Waiting Lists at Scotland's Gender Clinics
Thousands of individuals in Scotland are experiencing extended waits, spanning years, to attend their initial appointment at one of the country's gender clinics.
According to data from Public Health Scotland, as of the end of March 2024, a record total of 6,435 people were awaiting their first consultation with an NHS specialist in gender services.
The majority of these individuals have been waiting for over two years, with more than 1,000 patients enduring waits exceeding five years for their initial appointment.
The Scottish government has acknowledged that access to gender services remains
"unacceptably long"and stated it is collaborating with health boards to facilitate improvements.
Growing Demand and Service Pressures
Scotland's five NHS specialist gender clinics have been under increasing pressure in recent years due to a significant rise in the number of people questioning their gender identity or experiencing gender dysphoria.
The data, first collected in 2023, reveals that 84% of referrals were waiting over a year to be seen by an NHS specialist, with 4,163 patients waiting more than two years for their initial appointment.
In the 2025/26 period, just over 40% of referrals were for individuals aged 18 to 24 years, while over 20% were for those aged 25 to 34 years.
Meanwhile, referrals to the Sandyford clinic in Glasgow—the only dedicated service for children—declined by 46% last year. This decrease likely reflects significant changes in services for young people mandated by the Scottish government following a comprehensive review of gender services for children and young people published in 2024.
The review recommended that care for individuals under 18 should be provided within
"age-appropriate" paediatric services across the country.
Funding and Research Initiatives
The Cass review, which influenced recent policy changes, also recommended a pause on the use of puberty blockers pending further research.
A trial led by King's College London is underway to assess the effects of puberty blockers on the physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of patients.
The Scottish government has announced it is providing recurring funding to health boards aimed at supporting improvements across gender identity clinics. This funding includes the recruitment of additional staff to expand multidisciplinary teams, enhance communication with patients, and develop new resources and processes to assist those on waiting lists.
A government spokesperson said:
"The Scottish government recognises that the waiting times to access these services remain unacceptably long, and the impact that this can have on those waiting and their families.
We continue to work closely with health boards to reduce waiting times, ensure patients receive compassionate care and to provide access to support for patients who are waiting."
