NHS England must prioritise improving wait times for adult gender dysphoria clinics, an independent 'Cass-style' review has said. The operational review, headed by Dr David Levy, urged the UK's public health service to create an action plan that would reduce wait times for a first appointment in its Adult Gender Identity Clinics (GICs). Patients are reportedly waiting over 15 years to access care according to the review, which said operational issues would likely exacerbate the problem if nothing is done.
"There's no doubt this winter will be one of the toughest our staff have ever faced. "Since stepping into this role, the thought of a long, drawn-out flu season has kept me awake at night. And, unfortunately, it looks like that fear is becoming reality. "Australia has just endured its worst flu season on record over 410,000 cases and all the signs suggest the NHS will face similar challenges in the months ahead. From December through to March, our hospitals will be at capacity."
Martha's rule, a way for families to seek an urgent second opinion if they are concerned about the care their loved ones receive, will be rolled out across all English hospitals delivering acute or short-term treatment. The telephone helpline, the result of a campaign by the parents of 13-year-old Martha Mills who died after serious failings in her care, has been piloted in 143 hospital sites in England since April 2024.
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Labour's first year in power marks significant changes, including a U-turn on welfare cuts and the controversial scrapping of NHS England, impacting public perception significantly.