Crisis-hit gender service cancelled 60 surgeries this year, Welsh health minister says

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Ap Gwynfor said the NWJCC had appointed a clinical review panel, and it was expected its work would commence "imminently".

"This review will prioritise those individuals who are further along the pathway to allow appropriate referrals to proceed as soon as possible," he said.

"The JCC has identified that approximately 60 patients were due surgery between the pausing of surgery in August and the end of December.

"Our priority is to bring certainty to these people as quickly as possible and the JCC are confident that all 60 of these cases can be reviewed before the end of December."

A wider independent review into the service is also taking place, with findings expected later this year.

Ap Gwynfor added: "I have met with the JCC and been clear that the urgent clinical review needs to be swift to minimise the disruption and distress for individuals on the waiting list.

"I have also been clear that I expect all patients impacted by this pause to have access to the necessary support whilst the review is undertaken."

Wales Greens leader Slaughter led the debate and told Members of the Senedd (MSs) that an "unbearable limbo" was being faced by patients.

He said some of whom had been left feeling "abandoned, alone and confused, having had the rug pulled from under them".

"They had jumped through every hoop asked of them, had arranged and rearranged their lives around this day," he said.

Slaughter urged ministers to review what he called "the failure of governance that led to both patients and the government being blindsided" and said "robust measures" should be put into place so that the JCC could be held to account.

Slaughter was supported by Plaid Cymru MS for Sir Fynwy Torfaen, Matthew Jones, who accused the committee of "not publicly or adequately" explaining its concerns.

But Conservative health spokesperson Natasha Asghar said: "The title of this short debate suggests that pausing sex change operations is unacceptable but that couldn't be further from the truth.

"There is nothing unacceptable about pausing irreversible surgery at the Welsh Gender Service while serious concerns are investigated."

Cristiana Emsley, Reform MS for Fflint Wrecsam, said she believed the halt was merited, saying: "Whatever our political differences, truth and patient safety must unite us.

"I accept that the pause might cause distress and patients must be supported, but what would be unacceptable is continuing irreversible referrals when serious concerns exist about referral appropriateness, clinical governance and patient safeguards".

The NWJCC said in an update on Wednesday that it would begin its review looking at patients whose surgery would be due to take place between August and December 2026.

"Reviews will start with those whose planned surgery dates were earliest and will continue in date order," it said.

"NWJCC has sought confirmation from the NHS England surgical providers that patients who are able to proceed with surgery will be prioritised."

It promised that this stage of the review would be completed by the end of December, and says "experienced gender clinicians" will undertake the work.

"Patients who are waiting for surgery in 2027, and those who are waiting for a surgical assessment, will also have their referral reviewed to confirm that the requirements for surgery have been met."

The NWJCC said it had not identified any patients who had come to harm, but said concerns were raised through "complaints, correspondence and other information".

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