AQW 42105/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 09/03/2026
Answered On Date: 17/04/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps being taken to fully staff the Regional Gender Identity Service at the Brackenburn Clinic, to reduce the length of time patients are having to wait before accessing services.

Answer:

Belfast HSC Trust are actively working on internal processes required to fully staff the Regional Gender identity service. Advertisement of the new service manager post is currently live on HSCNI recruit.

The delay in progressing recruitment is due to the Trust awaiting the recent publication of Dr Cass’s Assessment of the Northern Ireland Lifespan Service prior to recruitment of posts to ensure that the proposed new service model / staffing structure aligns with recommendations.