THE COUNTRY'S first private gender clinic for young people to be approved by regulators has been rated ‘outstanding’.

The Gender Plus Hormone Clinic in Birmingham was the first youth gender clinic to be approved by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in the UK in January 2024.

After undergoing its first inspection in September, the clinic has been given the highest possible rating.

The clinic was set up by Dr Aidan Kelly and is led by nurse consultant Paul Carruthers, both of whom previously worked at the now-closed Gender Identity Development Service (Gids).

The Gender Plus Hormone Clinic treats people aged 16 and older and is able to prescribe gender-affirming hormones to patients who require them.

It does not prescribe puberty blockers, in line with a ban brought in earlier this year preventing the prescription of the medication from European or private prescribers.

In its inspection report published today, December 4, the CQC looked at 10 patient records, observed three consultations and spoke with 21 patients and their families as well as seven staff members.

The report praised the private clinic’s “patient-centred care and treatment”.

It stated: “There was evidence of a strong learning culture, and patients were cared for in a safe environment.

“There were robust processes in place to assess the needs of the patients using evidence-based guidance.

“Staff provided patients with patient-centred care and treatment.

“There were governance processes in place which were effective, and staff knew their roles and responsibilities.”

The regulator said it found the clinic “used medicines in line with national guidance and the Cass Review”.

It stated: “National legislation and associated guidance restricted the new prescribing of puberty-suppressing hormones for the treatment of gender incongruence or gender dysphoria in children and young people who are under 18 years of age.

“The clinic had sought guidance from the government and a lawyer to ensure they were practising in line with the law and were able to use these medicines only when prescribing feminising treatment and when puberty had been found to be fully established.”

The clinic was rated outstanding for being effective, responsive, caring and well-led, and was rated as good for being safe.

While the clinic operates out of Birmingham, patients can also have appointments in London and Leeds, and the service said it has seen 152 UK patients since its registration.

Dr Kelly, director of the clinic, described the inspection process as having been “rigorous” but said it was an “opportunity to really showcase what transgender healthcare can and should look like”.

He said: “Our process and everything that comes with the way in which we administer our approach to holistic healthcare, is geared towards ensuring the best outcomes for patients’ mental and physical wellbeing.

“This is just the beginning; we will continue to advocate for access to care for this community and to strive for continuous improvement in transgender healthcare.”

Mr Carruthers, who leads the service, added: “Our service was set up to narrow the ever-expanding gap that exists when it comes to accessing safe, effective and well-led healthcare for this patient population.

“We have pooled our collective expertise in working with trans people and their support networks to create a service which really listens and responds to their needs, delivering the healthcare trans people deserve.

“I am so grateful to my team for their tireless work in providing the best possible care to this community.”