Gender clinic Jersey (FOI)

​Request 669141996

With regards the practices and outcomes of the gender clinic in Jersey and its referral system to the UK, I would like to know the following:

1. How many patients have been referred by the gender clinic in Jersey to the UK for surgery in each of the past 10 years?

2. How many adult Jersey residents have received gender affirming surgery in the UK – in each of the last 5 years including 2024 (year to date)?

3. Does the Jersey government pay for gender affirming surgeries for Jersey residents which are carried out in the UK?

4. If yes, what has been the total expenditure in each of the last 5 years by the Jersey government on gender affirming surgeries for Jersey residents?

5. How many under 18s have been referred by the gender clinic in Jersey and CAMHS (combined) to the GIDS at Tavistock in London in the years 2019-2023 (when GIDS was closed).

6. Since the GIDS was closed in 2023, how many under 18s have been referred to UK gender clinics by CAMHS?

7. How many appointments and/or hours with trained medical professionals at CAMHS are required prior to referral of an under 18 to a UK gender clinic?

8. What level of training or licensing is required to qualify to conduct appointments and refer under 18s to a UK gender clinic?

9. For which services are under 18s being referred to a UK gender clinic?

10. Which UK gender clinic(s) is/are CAMHS referring under 18s to in the UK?

11. How many under 18s have been put on the following drugs after referral to the UK associated clinic in the last five years:

a) Puberty blockers

b) Cross-sex hormones (please specify by sex)

12. How many under 18s have received gender affirming surgery in the UK after referral in Jersey in each of the last five years?

13. By intervention, how many under 18 females have received any of the following surgeries:

a) Double mastectomy

b) Hysterectomy

c) Phalloplasty

14. By intervention how many under 18 males have received any of the following surgeries:

a) Orchiectomy

b) Vaginoplasty

Response

1 to 4

From January 2023 to December 2024, 8 people have been referred for surgery by the clinic. As numbers are small, a further breakdown by year cannot be provided, as individuals may be identifiable. Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied to protect the privacy of individuals.

Prior to 2023, data on referrals for such surgery were not collated centrally, and would only be available within individual medical records. A Scheduled Public Authority is not required to create or manipulate data for the purposes of responding to Freedom of Information requests. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

As with referral data, information on surgeries completed prior to 2023 will be held in individual medical records, but is not available to report from a central record. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

From the central record held, no surgeries were recorded for 2023. 

Fewer than five people underwent surgery in 2024. As numbers are small, disclosure control is applied to protect individuals from identification, and Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied to protect the privacy of individuals.

Surgery may not be completed in the year of referral. 

If a referral for treatment off-island is made by a Government of Jersey service, this would be funded. Annual costs recorded for surgery since 2023 are:

• 2023: £0
  
• 2024: £70,500

Information on adult referrals to the Tavistock and Portman’s Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) since 2019, and costs recorded through Health and Care Jersey’s Overseas Treatment and Travel service for the period from 2017 to 2021 have been published in response to previous Freedom of Information requests:

gov.je/government/freedomofinformation/pages/foi.aspx?ReportID=7379

gov.je/government/freedomofinformation/pages/foi.aspx?ReportID=5713​

5

Fewer than five individuals under 18 years of age were referred to the Tavistock and Portman’s Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) from 2019 to 2023. As numbers are small, disclosure control is applied to protect individuals from identification, and Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied to protect the privacy of individuals.

6

Since the closure of the Tavistock and Portman’s Gender Identity Development Service in 2023, fewer than five individuals under 18 years of age have been referred to U.K. gender clinics. As numbers are small, disclosure control is applied to protect individuals from identification, and Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied to protect the privacy of individuals.

7

There is no specific requirement. This would be decided on the needs of the young person and family.

8

Any young people being supported by CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) who are asking for a referral to a U.K. clinic would be discussed by a senior member of the team.

9

Referrals are made for young people requesting a specialist assessment to see if they are able to have a medical physical intervention in relation to their gender.

10

There is a new referral pathway for children and young people’s gender services which is managed by NHS England. Current waiting times are 3 years.

11

a) None.

b) None.

12 to 14

None.

Articles applied

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority”

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.

Article 25 - Personal information

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018; and

(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.