by VIC PARSONS

Anger is growing after it was revealed that trans and non-binary patients in the UK’s south west are waiting more than 193 weeks to see an NHS specialist – more than 10 times the NHS legal guideline of 18 weeks.Patients referred to the West of England Gender Identity Service in Exeter, known as The Laurels, now wait for 46 months on average – almost four years – before their first appointment with a specialist gender doctor.

Local LGBT+ group Yeovil Pride branded this situation “shocking” and called for the government to “address the inequalities facing trans and non-binary people” when it comes to accessing healthcare in the UK.

Sue Smith, Devon Partnership NHS Trust chief operating officer and director of workforce, said that the NHS knows “how much distress can be caused by lengthy waits for assessment and treatment”.

“We are doing everything we can to improve the situation, which is mirrored in gender services right across the country,” said Smith. “We are sorry that our Gender Identity Service is not able to see more people more quickly – and that some people are experiencing very long waits.