HSE plans to update gender-affirming healthcare: "The objective is to have an entirely domestic service"

The Heatlh Service Executive's (HSE) executive management committee was presented with a report about gender affirming healthcare on February 21st.

Now, Dr. Colm Henry, the Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE, says that the healthcare service is planning to update the current model of care for gender-affirming healthcare.

The new model will be made to accommodate trans healthcare issues like gender dysphoria, which is the unease or discontent derived from an individual's disconnect between their biological sex and gender identity. In severe cases, it can lead to depression and anxiety.

“The epidemiology of gender dysphoria is changing and will continue to do so. We are aware of 15 other countries, including the UK, who are looking at their models of care and we are doing so too.”

Ireland is, historically, not exactly the best when it comes to accommodating trans healthcare and trans rights. Just this last November, Ireland was ranked lowest in the European Union in terms of trans healthcare.

The TGEU, Transgender Europe, a network of organisations across Europe working to fight transgender discrimination and support transgender rights, compiled a map representing the availability and accessibility of trans-specific healthcare.

I'm super happy to announce that the Trans Health Map I've been working on for TGEU went live today. Check it out @ https://t.co/gFodYxSfFA pic.twitter.com/H3s7RNb2VM

— ノア (@noahadams) October 31, 2022

The ranking was determined by six factors, including the type of transgender healthcare and coverage available in the country,  requirements of a psychiatric diagnosis before hormonal treatment and/or surgery, and groups excluded or inhibited to trans specific healthcare.

Also a part of the evaluation is wait time for an initial appointment. Widely criticised by transgender activists, Ireland's current model of care has left people on 10-year long waiting lists. Individuals are often faced with discriminatory care.

Individuals often get referred to the UK, but the UK only has one model of care and the Gender Identity Development Services, delivered by the Tavistock and Portman Clinic, are unable to appropriately meet demand and trans people's needs according to a review by Dr. Hilary Cass.

The review was about gender identity services for younger individuals, including children, in the UK. In it, she advocated for a more decentralised approach to providing gender identity services.

The UK responded by closing the Tavistock and Portman Clinic to open two regional hubs instead. TENI, the Transgender Equality Network Ireland, approved.

“We are cautiously optimistic that expanding the service and creating regional hubs will shorten waiting lists and create community care which will enhance holistic wrap around local services around the UK."

"TENI would be delighted to see something similar happen in Ireland," the organisation continued.

"Young people and their families have been waiting a long time for an Irish child and adolescent service to be created. The post of a consultant psychiatrist to start this service has still not been filled even though the advertisement for the post went out over a year ago."

Too many people in the Irish trans community need to seek healthcare in the UK just to be recognised, history has shown us that those who must travel to the UK for basic healthcare are less able to do so putting their health at risk.

— DeathBunny (@DeathBunny_art) July 16, 2022

The HSE plans to participate in a collaborative, international research programme to develop the new model of care, in addition to establishing a multi-disciplinary team to work on it.

Dr. Henry assured that the planned team will be led by "a clinician from a relevant specialty, whose role will be to lead this process, ensuring widespread stakeholder engagement."