Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the long-term life outcomes, functioning, and attainment of major life milestones for individuals who have undergone medical gender transition through adult gender clinics.

Following the completion of the Independent Cass Review of NHS Gender Services for Children and Young People (the Cass Review), NHS England brought forward its planned review of adult gender dysphoria services. This review, led by Dr David Levy, examined the operating procedures in each adult gender service and the appropriateness of the service model for the presenting population, considered areas of concern for improvement, and identified good practice that could be shared with other clinics, as well as actions being taken to improve service quality.

In accordance with the Cass Review, the review of adult gender dysphoria services identified the need for improved clinical data, and for further research, to build a more comprehensive evidence base on which to better understand the needs of individuals being referred into adult gender services, to shape service and treatment delivery, and to better understand patient experience and outcomes.

Alongside work being undertaken to develop a common data set and associated registry arrangements, to embed quality improvement, to build and support research capacity and capability, and invest in clinical service delivery across National Health Service gender services, the James Lind Alliance is running two priority setting partnerships (PSPs) which are providing the opportunity to help identify and prioritise future gender research priorities. The Youth Diversity PSP will produce a top 10 list of research priorities for children and young people aged five to 25 years old, whilst the Trans, Non-Binary and Gender-Diverse Adults PSP is focussing on the research priorities for adults aged 18 years old and over. The National Institute for Health and Care Research will be able to build on the outputs of both PSPs to inform future calls for further gender research that specifically responds to the most important research questions identified in collaboration with stakeholders, including patients and their families, clinicians, and education and social care professionals.