Welsh Gender Service suspends surgical referrals for clinical review

The Welsh Gender Service has suspended all new and existing referrals for gender-affirming surgeries following concerns regarding high referral rates. The NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (NWJCC) requested the pause by the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board to facilitate an independent clinical review of the service’s assessment and governance processes.

Data from 2025-26 indicated that the Welsh service has “significantly higher rates” of surgical referrals compared to similar services in England. The NWJCC has escalated the service to Level 3, a formal NHS process involving increased oversight and monitoring.

While surgical assessments and scheduled operations are paused, the health board stated that other aspects of the service, such as hormone therapy support and psychological care, will continue to operate. The service, which was established in 2019, typically refers patients to England for surgical procedures.