Guidelines to address variation in gender equality services have been published by NHS England.
The Interim Gender Protocol should go some way towards achieving consistency in the commissioning of these services across England.
According to NHS England, the protocol is the culmination of “extensive work” to adapt the NHS Scotland guidelines, ensuring that it meets the needs of patients, provides safe delivery of services and reflects NHS England structures.
Guidelines to address variation in gender equality services have been published by NHS England.
The Interim Gender Protocol should go some way towards achieving consistency in the commissioning of these services across England.
According to NHS England, the protocol is the culmination of “extensive work” to adapt the NHS Scotland guidelines, ensuring that it meets the needs of patients, provides safe delivery of services and reflects NHS England structures.
The document states: “The purpose of the interim protocol and guideline is to bridge the time period between the present, fragmented commissioning and provision of these services, and an agreed NHS England policy and service specification that will be developed through the CRG in the coming months in readiness for the 2014/15 contracting round.
“It will provide interim consistency, equality and equity of access across the country and drive out the significant variation currently experienced by patients.
“There will be a financial impact should the interim protocol and guideline be adopted but this relatively small unit cost for a small cohort of patients relates in the main to Facial Hair Reduction for male to female transition.”
The document should be used and read in conjunction with the UK Intercollegiate Good Practice Guidelines for the Assessment and Treatment of Adults with Gender Dysphoria and is cross-referenced to its relevant sections.
The NHS England Interim Protocol is not intended to be exhaustive in content. Issues not covered in this document should be managed in accordance with the UK Intercollegiate Good Practice Guidelines.
The full document is available to view on the NHS England website.
