Gender Dysphoria: Health Services
(asked on 9th September 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many NHS referrals for (1) mastectomy, and (2) genital surgery as treatment for gender dysphoria, were made in each of the last three years, broken down by age group.
NHS England has committed to implement the Cass Review's recommendation for a dedicated detransition service, and will hold a public consultation on a proposed service specification in the autumn of 2027, for adoption in 2027/28.
The NHS service specification for adult gender services was published in 2019, following an extensive public consultation in 2017, respondents to which included United Kingdom professional medical bodies and health regulators. A similar process of public consultation on a proposed new service specification will be held later in 2027/28 building on the findings and recommendations of the report of the National Operational and Delivery Review of Adult Gender Services published in December 2025.
The arrangements for referral for surgery, and the funding of that surgery, are consistent with those for other specialised services. Upon a confirmed diagnosis of gender dysphoria, an NHS-commissioned specialist multi-disciplinary Adult Gender Service may make a referral to a specialist surgical team who will assess the patient's suitability for surgery and communicate that decision to the Adult Gender Service. Processes are in place to ensure that patients are fully informed of potential risks and benefits in order to give informed consent both to the initial referral for surgery and to the surgical intervention.
The following table shows the number of NHS referrals for chest reconstructive surgery which were made in each of the last three years, broken down by age group. Please note that the number of referrals that were assessed as suitable for surgery will be lower and that these numbers include patients from England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland:
Age at date of referral | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | 2025/26 |
<18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
18 - 20 | 207 | 205 | 171 |
21 - 24 | 506 | 448 | 426 |
25 - 29 | 300 | 302 | 322 |
30 - 39 | 167 | 157 | 169 |
40 - 49 | 34 | 31 | 40 |
>49 | 25 | 16 | 16 |
The following table shows the number of NHS referrals for genital surgery which were made in each of the last three years, broken down by age group:
Age at date of referral | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | 2025/26 |
<18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
18 - 20 | 48 | 35 | 45 |
21 - 24 | 281 | 233 | 232 |
25 - 29 | 365 | 375 | 371 |
30 - 39 | 361 | 323 | 301 |
40 - 49 | 137 | 129 | 117 |
>49 | 172 | 159 | 129 |