Across all nations of the UK, the NHS is failing to deliver the care that trans children and young people need. There were virtually no first appointments offered in 2023, with ever-growing waiting lists of over five years. 

In England, the children and young people’s service, GIDS, closed in April 2024, replaced by two hubs operating under new guidelines which seek to limit the care available, including restricting prescribing of puberty blockers. In Scotland, Sandyford hasn’t offered a first appointment since September 2022. In Northern Ireland, their service (KOI) offered only three initial assessments in the year prior to August 2023.

The final report of the Cass Review, published in 2024, has prompted further changes, and is having ramifications beyond NHS England.

In December 2025, the UK Government decided to continue criminalising the prescription of puberty suppressing medicines for trans children and young people outside of a proposed NHS research study. You can read our full statement on this here and if you need support, please reach out to our helpline – we are here to support you.

We at Mermaids are campaigning for:

• Timely, supportive and holistic healthcare access for all, with maximum wait times in line with the 18 week NHS Constitution.
• NHS healthcare provided in line with international best practice, including prescription of puberty blockers and hormones for those who need them.
• Decentralised access to care, including more trained GPs who provide informed consent options for hormones for patients over 16.

You can get involved by writing to your MP, to demand trans health now, using the tool at the top of this page.