Gender Identity Service

Pathway Review Group Terms of Reference

Aims and Objectives

The aim of the Gender Identity Service Pathway Review Group (‘the Review Group’) is to undertake a time-limited review which will:

• Understand the current pathway and challenges;
• Reflect best practice guidance from the National Institute for Health Care Excellence (NICE) and elsewhere;
• Secure service user input to the proposed pathway;
• Propose a pathway that works across primary and secondary care and affords equitable access across the region; and
• Make best use of available resources.

The Review Group will not address or propose any changes to the gender reassignment surgery service but will highlight any interface issues which need to be managed as part of the pathway.

Membership

The Review Group will meet every 6 – 8 weeks and will be chaired by the HSCB.  Representation will include the following:

• Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
• Health & Social Care Board
• Public Health Agency
• Patient and Client Council
• Service user representatives
• Department of Health
• Northern Local Commissioning Group
• Royal College of General Practitioners
• Northern Ireland General Practitioners’ Committee

Other colleagues may be asked to attend on an ‘as and when’ basis. Input from service users and representative groups will be facilitated through a parallel service user forum.  Administrative arrangements / business support will be provided by HSCB Commissioning.

Accountability

A draft review pathway will be submitted to the DoH with an assessment of what is required in terms of consultation, if appropriate, together with an indication of what additional resources may be required to deliver the revised pathway.

Timeline

It is proposed that the review will be completed by Spring 2021.