Advancing transgender equality: a plan for action

11Health and social careDetailed action Start date End date LeadThrough the NHS Equality Delivery System,support NHS commissioners and providers’compliance with the public sector Equality Dutyand ensure that decisions are fair, transparent,accountable, evidence-based and consider theneeds and rights of staff and patients across allthe protected characteristics, including genderreassignment.Commission and publish a clear and conciseguide for health practitioners, including GPsand Primary Care Trusts, and the transgendercommunity on care pathways and availabletreatments. This includes information on thehealth of transgender young people and generalhealthcare issues post transition.Update the NHS Choices website and addinformation on transgender health, includingsexual health and links to other useful websites.Lead a dialogue between the transgendercommunity, including non-gendered people, themedical profession and NHS commissioners, toshare best practice and review how this groupcan shape health policy.Take active measures to ensure that the views oftransgender users shape the Government's Careand Support White Paper and create a caremarket that is more responsive to diverse needs.As part of the Government’s wider work onreducing waiting times in accessing mental healthservices, review the issue of delays experiencedby patients undergoing gender dysphoriatreatment.As part of the Government’s wider work todevelop a new NHS Commissioning System,ensure greater consistency in commissioninggender identity services, increased patient choiceand more cost effective treatment plans forgender dysphoria.July 2011 February 2012 Departmentof Health(DH)January 2012 April 2013 DHDecember2011December2012DHJuly 2011 Ongoing DHSeptember2011December2011November2011December2012December2012April 2013DHDHDH