Wales' health minister, Mabon ap Gwynfor, has called a meeting with the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (NWJCC) to discuss the immediate pause on referrals for gender-affirming surgeries. The Welsh Gender Service halted both new referrals and planned surgeries last week following concerns raised by the NWJCC regarding the number and appropriateness of referrals.
The NWJCC instructed Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, which oversees the NHS gender identity clinic for adults in Wales, to implement the pause. This decision was reportedly triggered by data indicating "significantly higher rates of referral for gender affirming surgery... compared with English gender services" in 2025-26.
Ap Gwynfor stated that he respects the decision, describing it as clinically led and precautionary, but has questions for the NWJCC. He wants to understand the timeline for an independent clinical review and ensure patients know that services remain available. "I want to understand how long this review will take, what form will it take and to make sure that people out there know that services are there and that they can depend on the NHS in Wales to help them out in their hour of need," he said.
Some patients who were awaiting gender-affirming surgery were already hospitalized for their procedures when they were informed of the suspension, the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board confirmed Tuesday.
Gender-affirming surgery includes both masculinizing and feminising procedures, which are irreversible. While the Welsh Gender Service handles referrals for Welsh residents, all NHS surgeries of this nature are performed in England.
The decision to pause surgeries has drawn mixed reactions. Reform UK and the Welsh Conservatives have welcomed the move. Natasha Asghar, Welsh Conservative spokesperson for health, called the cancellation "absolutely the right thing to do" and had previously advocated for a review of the service. Dan Thomas, Welsh leader of Reform UK, commented that "sensible-minded people in Wales" would support the suspension and that further review is needed.
Conversely, a letter signed by 26 of Plaid Cymru's 28 backbench Senedd members expressed "profound disappointment" to the NWJCC chairman. The letter, which surfaced Thursday, stated the development had caused "distress, fear and a deep sense of uncertainty" within the trans community, particularly at a time when trans people's rights are under increasing pressure. The signatories requested clarification on the specific concerns regarding referral numbers and asked for a timeline for the resumption of surgeries and referrals.