The NHS Children and Young Person’s Service (East) provides specialist gender-related care and support for children and young people.
Referral information
The service is for children and young people up to their 18th birthday. The national waiting list is being held by NHS Gender National Referral Support (GNRSS) on behalf of NHS England and patients will be transferred across to regional centres as soon as appointments become available.
To ensure children and young people receive the help they need, referrals into the service will come via secondary care: children and young people's mental health services or hospital and community paediatric services. GPs will be able to refer to those services.
For further information about the national waiting list please visit NHS Gender National Referral Support Service website (opens in a new tab) or contact them on 0300 131 6775.
About the Service
Commissioned by NHS England, it is the fourth specialist centre to open and follows the launch of other centres in London, the North West and South West in 2024. Over time, NHS England aims to open up to eight centres across the country.
At the heart of this service is a real focus on delivering quality care and support to children and young people. It is built around supporting the whole person, considering their physical and mental health, including emotional, psychological and social needs, to care for the individual needs of children and young people.
Our team of specialist health professionals will provide holistic assessment and support, working alongside local services. Children, young people and their families and/or carers will be seen in a welcoming and friendly environment. Our staff will give time and space to build up trusting relationships with children, young people, involving their families / carers, making sure that people are heard and their needs carefully thought about.
Our approach is to deliver the best possible care and advice for children and young people, in line with NHS guidance and informed by research.
About the team
The team delivering the service is made up of specialist health professionals including clinical psychologists, family therapists, nurses, occupational therapists, paediatricians, psychiatrists, social workers, speech and language therapists and other psychological practitioners.
As with any specialist service, children and young people will continue to need support from their local services, including GPs, other health and social care professionals, voluntary sector services and mental health teams.
Urgent advice: Need urgent support?
If you need urgent mental health or physical health care please contact your GP, local emergency services or your local crisis care service.
If you have been offered an appointment with the service, please refer to your letter for contact details, information about your appointment and where to go.
For any other queries, please contact cuh.genderservice@nhs.net or telephone 01223 808699.