Number of Scots having sex-change surgery on NHS soars in two years

● 40 per cent increase in male to female procedures, with referrals also on the rise

The number of people electing to have sex-change surgery on the NHS has increased in Scotland, with male to female procedures up by 40 per cent in just two years.

Teenagers as young as 16 are among those to undergo the medical procedure from health boards across the country.

The figures, revealed in the Mail on Sunday, show that funding has been provided for 702 operations in the past four years in Scotland.

194 operations have taken place so far in 2019-20.

Scotland saw 62 male to female operations funded last year at a cost of £10,000 a time – a 40 per cent increase in two years.

James Morton, manager of the Scottish Trans Alliance, told the paper: “There continue to be extremely long waiting times for several years from referral to gender identity clinic to receiving surgery, so only the most in need trans people persevere with accessing NHS surgery.

“The NHS regularly provides various quality of life improving surgeries for all kinds of health issues. Trans people pay tax like everyone else and are only receiving their fair share of health care.”

According to the figures, 23 female to male procedures were funded last year, with chest reconstructions rose to 125 last year. There were 37 referrals of patients aged 16 or 17.

In NHS Lothian the number of patients attending gender clinics rose from 442 in 201617 to 587 in 2019-20.

NHS Highland told the paper that 18 people had begun treatment to transition from female to male and 18 from male to female between 2016 and 2020.

In NHS Grampian the number of people who had been referred to gender identity clinics rose from 66 in 2016 to 82 in 2019.

The board said it did not accept patients under the age of 18.

Those who are referred to services have a 12-month preoperative period where they live as their chosen gender. They receive hormone therapy, speech therapy, facial hair removal and psychotherapy.

An NHS National Services

Scotland spokesman said: “The NHS in Scotland has a well established gender reassignment protocol, in place since 2012. It is designed to ensure an effective, equitable and sustainable service that is flexible for transgender patients. Each patient’s request for assessment and treatment will be considered, in conjunction with clinicians, to meet individual needs.”

The Scottish Government said: “It is important for young people and children who may be uncertain about their gender identity to be properly supported.”