Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that there will be no gap between the closure of the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust Gender and Identity Development Service and the opening of new regional hubs.

The establishment of the new services and closure of the current contract with the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust will happen as quickly as possible this year, but crucially at a pace appropriate to the complexity of the change, while minimising disruption and any additional anxiety for patients.

A national transformation programme has been established to oversee the transition of patients from the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust Gender and Identity Development Service into the new Phase 1 services.

New referrals are being directed to NHS Arden and GEM Commissioning Support Unit, who will hold these referrals on behalf of the new service providers in the interim. NHS Arden and GEM will transfer patients on the waiting list to the new providers once they have commenced operation.