Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, has provided an initial response to the independent review of gender identity services for children and young people, chaired by Dr Hilary Cass.
This report aims to improve NHS gender identity services, to ensure that children and young people who are questioning their gender identity or experiencing gender dysphoria receive a high standard of holistic care.
Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:
"Children who are gender questioning also commonly experience mental illness. It is extremely important that every child who is gender questioning has timely access to services that are holistic and respond to their individual needs.
“Dr Hilary Cass OBE has published a rigorous independent review. Crucially, it is informed by the views of people with lived experience, but also a broad range of views from stakeholders, healthcare professionals, social workers and of course, parents.
"The College will now review, in detail, the recommendations of this important report and what they mean for patients, psychiatrists and mental health services. Once this work is complete, we will respond in full to its findings."
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
- X: @rcpsych
- Out-of-hours contact number: 07860 755896