Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has published a significant report confirming that Northern Ireland's Gender Identity Service is compliant with the recommendations of the 2024 Cass Review.

The assessment was conducted by Dr Hilary Cass, whom the Minister commissioned in September 2025 to evaluate if local services for children and young people experiencing gender incongruence met the safety and holistic standards established in her landmark review of English services. The resulting report suggests that Northern Ireland now has a "crucial opportunity" to pioneer a Regional Lifespan Gender Service and foster closer ties with healthcare providers in England.

Dr Cass's findings specifically praised the local model for successfully integrating clinical, social, and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Commenting on the report, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: "In 2024 Dr Cass published her wide-ranging and landmark review into gender identity services for children and young people in the UK. There is simply no one better placed to provide an assessment of the gender identity service provision in Northern Ireland.

"Given the significant political and media commentary around the decision to proceed forward with a Regional Lifespan Gender Identity Service, I commissioned Dr Cass to conduct this assessment. "It is vital that we get these services right, to ensure children and young people in Northern Ireland receive a high standard of care that meets their needs and is safe, holistic and effective."

The report outlines several key recommendations, including joining the UK National Provider Network, participating in the PATHWAYS research programme, and focusing on workforce development. Department of Health officials are now set to collaborate with English counterparts and local Health and Social Care (HSC) providers to implement these findings.

Expressing her support for the Northern Ireland approach, Dr Hilary Cass said: "I commend Minister Nesbitt for the investment he has committed to the Lifespan Service, and in particular, for the benefits it will bring for children and young people with gender incongruence and gender dysphoria.

"These young people often have very complex needs and require holistic services that do not just focus on their gender, but on their broader well-being. The changes will support joint working and learning with teams in England, with a focus on helping young people thrive and achieve the best possible outcomes in adult life."

Minister Nesbitt concluded by thanking Dr Cass and her team for their November visit, stating he hoped the report would offer public assurance that the investment in additional psychological and psychiatric support is the correct path for the region.