The young person gender service helps you explore your feelings about your gender identity and talk you through options that feel right for you.
We see those who are under 18 and living in Scotland.
This page is for the young person service. If you are 18 or over, visit the adult gender service page.
On this page you will find information on:
What to expect from our service
Additional support from trusted organisations
The latest updates on Gender Care for Young People in Scotland right now
Non-urgent advice: Waiting list information
November 2019
Last updated Feb 2026
• We can’t provide individual updates on your position on the waiting list. Please keep a note of your referral date and continue to check the above information which is updated regularly.
• If any of your details have changed since your referral, or if you no longer wish to access the service, please let us know so we can update our records.
Who this service is for
Our service aims to support young people with their gender identity.
Some people experience distress or discomfort when their gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. This can affect different parts of life, including emotions, relationships, and wellbeing.
Some people explore different ways to feel more comfortable in their gender identity, such as changing their name and appearance, but every journey is personal.
Find out more information on gender identity on Young Scot.
We cover all of Scotland
The young person gender service is for anyone under 18 living in any part of Scotland who is seeking support for their gender identity. We aim to provide safe, high-quality and person-centred gender services which understand, respect and uphold your rights.
How to get a referral
To get support from the young person gender service you will need a referral from a GP, paediatric services or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
They’ll talk with you about how you’re feeling and whether a referral to the young person gender service is right for you.
The information below explains more.
If you’re unsure who to contact you can check the NHS inform service directory.
Preparing for a referral appointment with your GP or Mental Health Team
Calling to make an appointment with your GP or Mental Health Team
When contacting a GP practice or mental health team to make an appointment, the receptionist will likely ask for a brief description of what you would like to discuss. This is so that they direct you to the best provider for your care.
At your GP or Mental Health Team appointment
Before a clinician can refer you, they’re likely to ask you about:
- Your day-to-day experiences of gender and gender identity, including any distress or unease you feel regarding your biological sex and gender identity
- Any steps you have taken toward transition, including changing names, pronouns, and social presentation
- Medical and mental health history, including whether you have been diagnosed as having a neurodivergent condition (e.g. Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, etc.)
- Your current level of wellbeing
Based on these questions, the clinician will work with you to decide whether you would benefit from a referral to the gender service.
It may be that the clinician suggests other types of support are appropriate (i.e. mental health services, neurodivergence assessment) either alongside or before a referral to the gender service.
How to prepare GP or Mental Health Team appointment
It can be useful to prepare for an appointment beforehand by:
- Writing out answers to the questions above to share with the clinician.
- Seeking social support from trusted people, including family, friends and support workers. You can also ask someone to accompany you to the appointment if this is what you prefer.
- Preparing for the different possible outcomes from the appointment, including the possibility that a referral may not be made immediately.
Doc Ready is an online tool that can be used to make a checklist of issues to raise with the clinician. It also explains more about the process of approaching a GP/your mental health team and people’s rights.
LGBT Youth Scotland’s “Trans and Non-binary Coming Out Guide” may be useful for reflecting on your experiences of gender. LGBT Youth Scotland’s Live Chat service is also open to young people aged 13-25 who want to talk to a youth worker about gender and transition.
GP / Mental Health clinician knowledge and understanding
Healthcare professionals may have differing levels of knowledge and understanding about gender and transition.
Everyone has the right to be treated with consideration, dignity and respect when accessing and using NHS services.
This means that even if a clinician isn’t knowledgeable about gender and transition, they should take your thoughts, feelings and needs into consideration, and support you toward the best choice for care.
If a healthcare professional is unsure about the referral process, they can be directed to this page for more information.
What to do if your clinician doesn’t make a referral
Deciding whether a referral to the Gender Service would be beneficial should be a shared decision between you and your clinician. Clinicians should be knowledgeable of the care options that are available and how these may support you.
A decision by a GP not to make a referral to the Gender Service may be made for several reasons. They might think it is not the right time for you to engage with the Gender Service because of life circumstances. This should be discussed with you, and steps should be taken to provide support.
It is possible for referrals to be made to the Gender Service alongside referrals to other services; engaging with physical health, mental health or neurodivergence-related services does not prevent a referral to the Gender Service.
If you are unhappy with the outcome of a decision or how a referral request has been handled by a clinician, you can:
- suggest your clinician consults this page
- ask the service/GP practice to allocate you another clinician
- make a complaint to the service/GP practice
- seek support from an advocacy service such as The Advocacy Project, or the Patient Advice and Support Service Scotland who provide health-based rights support independent of the NHS
Healthcare rights are outlined in NHS Scotland’s Charter of patient rights and responsibilities.
Knowing if your referral to the Gender Service has been accepted
When your referral has been accepted, we will send you confirmation by your preferred contact method.
If it has been over 6 weeks since you have agreed to the referral with your clinician, you can request confirmation of the referral via the email address below:
ggc.youngpersongender.sandyford@nhs.scot
We will respond as soon as we can.
If it’s confirmed that a referral hasn’t been received/accepted, then you should contact your referring clinician.
How our waiting list works
You will join our list from the date we accept your referral.
The Young Person Gender Service and Adult Gender Service have separate waiting lists.
Young people are automatically moved onto their local adult gender service waiting list as they approach their 18th birthday. Depending on where you live, this may be a gender service in another health board. More information on this can be found here.
Currently, young people who are approaching their 18th birthday will automatically join an adult service waiting list based on the date their initial young person referral was accepted (e.g. if someone was referred to the young person’s gender service in September 2020, their place on the adult waiting list will be based on this date).
The current wait time for appointments for both our Adult Gender Service and Young Person Gender Service is several years. We acknowledge that this can be extremely difficult for those trying to access services. We are working closely with community organisations to provide support in the interim.
What happens if you move
Contact us
It’s important that you contact us if you move address. See details on doing this at the bottom of this page.
If you move outside of Scotland
If you move outside of Scotland there is no guarantee that gender services in other parts of the UK will keep to your original referral date with us, and you may be considered a brand new referral and placed at the bottom of their waiting list. It is advised to check this with local services if planning to move away from Scotland.
What to expect from our service
Once you have reached the top of our waiting list you will be offered your first appointment at our service.
We will try our best to accommodate your schedule/availability, but as demand for this service is high, flexibility may be limited.
Waiting times are long. See the next section for support while you wait.
Who you’ll meet
All our staff are experienced in gender healthcare. There are different types of professionals who work to support different aspects of someone’s gender identity.
Currently, the team includes:
- Clinical psychologists
- Doctors
- Admin staff
At your first appointment at the Gender Service
Your first appointment will be carried out by a clinical psychologist.
We’ll talk about your experiences so far and whether this service is still appropriate for you. If you are under 16 and have a guardian with you, you’ll be given the chance to talk privately with us first. We’ll discuss how we can support you, and might refer you to other services we think you would benefit from.
They will discuss with you many topics that may have already been covered when asking for a referral from your GP/mental health clinician. Some people can find this difficult, but it is important to be honest and give the most accurate information possible. This means we can give you the best care.
We are likely to discuss:
- Current circumstances
- Current and past experiences of gender and transition
- Physical and mental health (both current and past), including neurodivergence
- Family health history
- What support is being sought from the Gender Service
How to prepare for your first appointment at the Gender Service
Preparing for your first appointment can help decrease any anxiety felt around meeting the Gender Service and help you get the most out of your appointment.
It may be helpful to consider:
- What your long term goals are with regards to gender/transition
- Any questions you may have about the service, our processes or the types of support being sought
- Any anxieties or concerns about transitioning or engaging with the gender service
- Any accessibility or additional support needs (see next section)
Bringing someone with you
You can bring someone with you to your appointment if you like. You don’t need to notify us of this ahead of time.
Your appointment space
Depending on where you live or if it is your preference, you can choose an online appointment. If you choose to an in-person appointment, all of our rooms are private to ensure confidentiality.
The care we can offer
Most people tend to be offered multiple appointments. Some types of support can only be offered after several assessment appointments and it may be some time after a first appointment that someone is able to access the type of support they are seeking.
Please note: Gender-affirming hormone treatment is not available to anyone under 18.
It is important that you don’t take any hormone medication before or during your care with us as this may not be safe for you. A full statement on this can be found here.
Getting here and building access
Location
The Gender Service is on the fourth floor at 93 Candleriggs, Merchant City, Glasgow, G1 1NP. It is a bright, modern space. There is lift access. There is a sign inside the main entrance of the building, on the right-hand side. For full directions and details, visit our Locations page.
Arrival
When you arrive, you’ll be welcomed by friendly staff at the reception desk.
Waiting area and facilities
You’ll be asked to sit in a quiet waiting area where gender-neutral toilets and water fountains are available.
Accessibility and additional support needs
The service is inclusive for patients who have a disability, neurodivergence or mental health condition that they require additional support for.
When you’re offered an appointment at the Gender Service, please email to let us know:
- Do you have any general access needs? This might include physical access needs (e.g. a lift), environmental access needs (e.g. low sensory stimulation environment), an interpreter (e.g. BSL or foreign language), etc.
- What have your previous experiences of appointments been like? What did the clinician do that was helpful, or unhelpful?
- How do you communicate best with professionals? What would you like your clinician to know about how you communicate?
- How will you manage stress/anxiety in your appointment?
You can email ggc.youngpeoplegender.sandyford@nhs.scot or call 0141 211 8693 if you prefer.
Support from other organisations
The gender service works with several organisations to offer community support to those on our waiting list.
Some people approach the gender service looking for understanding and ongoing support, and some of our community partner organisations are actually best placed to offer this.
Their services will be useful to those looking for:
- Community, and to meet other people with similar experiences of gender and transition
- Ongoing support and understanding with gender, transition, and wellbeing
- A safe, positive space to explore individual needs and goals
Find a guide to these below:
Contact us
- Due to service constraints we can only answer queries from patients already on our waiting lists or in active treatment with us.
- Please be aware that it may take up to 2 months to receive a response from the service.
- We cannot share an individual’s specific position in the waiting list – please refer to the waiting list times at the top of this page.
We understand that waiting for care can be difficult, and we want to thank you for your patience. And remember, support from other organisations is available while you wait.
Our teams are working hard to improve access and ensure everyone receives the support they need as soon as possible.
To update your details
Please get in touch if you have:
- Changed your name by deed poll
- Updated your CHI number, email address or phone number
- Changed GP (even if just for term time for students)
- Have moved address
We operate on a separate patient record system from GPs and other NHS services and so these do not automatically update.
Email updates to: ggc.youngpeoplegender.sandyford@nhs.scot
If you are unable to access emails, update your details by phone 0141 211 8693 or write to Gender Service, 4th Floor, 93 Candleriggs, Merchant City, Glasgow, G1 1NP.
To reschedule your appointment
If you cannot make your appointment, please contact the service as soon as possible to rearrange: 0141 211 8693
Under the NHS Patient Access Policy, two reasonable offers of appointments will be made before it will be presumed that the person is no longer in need of the Gender Service, and their referral discharged.
The latest updates on Gender Care for Young People in Scotland
Hormone Treatments Accessed Privately (also known as self-sourcing, or ‘DIY’)
We are aware that some people are accessing hormone treatments through online and private providers. It is acknowledged that the long waiting times and assessment processes associated with the Gender Service can make this feel like the only option.
The NHS does not recommend the use of private providers for Gender care. If you have been considering private hormone treatments, it’s important to know that not all private providers will undertake a full assessment to ensure that hormones are a safe, suitable option. NHS Gender Services won’t accept any private assessments you have if you go on to use our service. If you have already been receiving private Gender care, you will still have to have a full assessment undertaken when you first use NHS services.
There are also risks to be aware of in accessing hormones privately:
- You might not get clear or reliable information to help make fully informed choices about hormones.
- Your options for necessary follow-up care, like regular blood tests or support with side effects or mental health, may be limited.
- If medications are ordered from overseas, it can be hard to know if they’re safe or real.
- Private care can be very expensive, and ongoing costs can add up quickly.
NHS providers are limited in the support they can offer to someone accessing hormones privately. NHS prescriptions for hormones are not available to people coming from private providers, and blood tests may not be provided by GPs. However, anyone accessing hormones privately, should still discuss this with your GP or mental health clinician, particularly if you are receiving treatment for other conditions.
Children, young people and their families are strongly discouraged from sourcing puberty suppressing or gender affirming hormones from unregulated sources or from on-line providers that are not regulated by UK regulatory bodies. Possession of puberty suppressing hormones obtained without a valid prescription is a criminal offence.
The latest updates on Young People Gender Care in Scotland
The Cass Review was a review of gender identity services for children and young people in England and Wales, which reported its conclusions in April 2024. It recommended that puberty blockers be removed as a treatment option for young people under the age of 18, and this recommendation was adopted in Scotland. Young people who were already receiving this treatment were unaffected.
Plans are in place for further research to test the use of and safety of puberty blockers – policy and guidance around puberty blockers is unlikely to change until after this is concluded.
In Scotland, feminising/masculinising hormone treatments are not available to young people under the age of 18 in NHS Gender Services.
Currently, gender care is delivered through dedicated gender services/gender identity clinics in Scotland. The Scottish Government plans to move young people’s care to regional services, in which more clinicians will be trained and confident in providing care, and care will in due course be accessed outwith Gender Services.
Further support
We understand this can be a complex and emotional time for young people and those close to them. The resources below may be able to provide further support.