Janice R. Andrews
Senior officials voice concerns about appointment cancellations, a lack of patient information, and inadequate communication with new services in relation to the closure of the NHS gender identity clinic for young people.
The head of the program, Dr. Polly Carmichael, expressed concerns about patient safety in emails that were released and highlighted possible hazards to patients as a result of appointment cancellations.
Days before the shutdown, NHS England assured us that care would continue, but there are still a lot of questions about how new services will operate and when they will be fully operational.
Employees at the new services complain about a lack of information, citing months of unfulfilled pleas for help in ensuring a seamless transition.
Notably, recent email exchanges demonstrate subpar management procedures and raise concerns regarding patient safety due to unannounced cancellations of children’s visits.
Families are irate that they are not being told anything about how their children will be cared for in the future; some even claim to have learned more from news articles than from NHS channels.
Basic information, such the contact details of new physicians, is kept secret from patients and families who receive letters regarding the transfer of care.
Psychological assistance for children taking puberty blockers is a source of concern, as there are worries that this part of treatment may not be completely functioning throughout the service change.
Although job postings ended just before the clinic closed, the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust promises to be actively hiring for critical positions and to launch the replacement service on April 2; however, they have not provided a schedule for patient consultations.
Following an independent study by Dr. Hilary Cass, which advocated for a more comprehensive approach to caring for children and young people, the Gender Identity Development Service (Gids) was closed.
Reiterating its commitment to treatment continuity, NHS England promises more national resources for assistance as well as local mental health evaluations for people who are waiting.
Keep checking back for more details as this story develops.
