Baroness Hilary Cass, who led the national Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People, has been asked by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to conduct an assessment of the provision of gender identity services in Northern Ireland.

The assessment will specifically consider the proposed move to a new Regional Lifespan Gender Service.

Minister Mike Nesbitt said he was "delighted" that the "eminently qualified" Baroness Cass agreed to his request. He noted that her wide-ranging review last year concluded that most young people would not benefit from a medical pathway, and instead called for a much stronger focus on psychological support and a more holistic approach to care. The Minister believes that is "exactly what I want Northern Ireland to be delivering." Much of the previously approved £806 thousand business case for the new service is to invest in new and additional psychological and psychiatric support, as well as a greater multi-disciplinary approach.

The new service is a redesign of the existing provision that will bring together the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Knowing Our Identity Team and the Adult Gender Service into one model of care under a single management structure.

While the Minister is content with the process so far, he believes an independent expert assessment may help address a number of questions that have been raised. The assessment is set to commence in November 2025.