A private hormone clinic for transgender and non-binary young people has become the first in the UK to receive approval from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The Gender Plus Hormone Clinic will now be able to prescribe hormones to those over the age of 16 who have been assessed by clinical psychologists over the course of at least six sessions.
Gender Plus says its treatment pathways are in line with current national and international guidelines. Teams can include a nurse consultant, consultant endocrinologist, and a patient coordinator.
“…we are held to the highest standard.” – Dr Aidan Kelly
Clinical staff will also answer any hormone-related questions from patients, and ensure support accounts for gender, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, and mental health.
Senior clinical psychologist and clinical director at Gender Plus, Dr Aidan Kelly, said: “In this area where there’s so much scrutiny and uncertainty from parents, patients and other professionals, this [CQC approval] is a stamp of approval and lets people know we are held to the highest standard.”
Dr Kelly previously worked at the health service’s gender identity development service (GIDS) at Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.
A CQC report into GIDS rated the service as ‘inadequate’ in 2021 and will close by the end of this March.
GIDS is currently the only national specialist service in England for children and young people with gender dysphoria.
This April will see new NHS clinics open in the south of England and in the north west.
Responding to the approval, Gender Plus, said: “We are thrilled to announce that we are now Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered. We are the first independent child gender care service to achieve this and our hormone clinics are officially open.
“Regulation by the CQC ensures health and social care services in England are safe, effective and well-led, providing compassionate, high quality care.”
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