Meeting of the Parliament 08 May 2024
I need to make progress.
As part of our work, the Scottish Government is clear that there needs to be transparency. We therefore agree that the CMO will write to the Parliament, as I have said, reporting in full all of the clinical findings of the senior multidisciplinary clinical team, and to prepare a progress report on the existing strategy for reducing long waits for children and young people to access specialist gender services. On that basis, and to find consensus, we will accept the Labour Party’s amendment.
I hope that all of us can agree that that consensus will be helpful for the young people involved, their families, clinicians and health professionals who deliver gender identity healthcare.
It did not take the publication of the report for the Scottish Government to start a broad programme of work to improve gender identity healthcare. It is important to note that, in Scotland, we are already making progress on several of the aspects of gender identity healthcare that are highlighted in the Cass review.
Dr Cass reminded us in her report that
“A compassionate and kind society remembers that there are real children, young people, families, carers and clinicians behind the headlines.”
I hope that that sentiment is one that we can all keep in mind in today’s debate and as we progress.
I move amendment S6M-13090.4, to leave out from “implement” to end and insert:
“thoroughly examine the recommendations of the NHS England commissioned report, and its applicability to NHS Scotland services, and to update the Parliament on the outcome before the summer recess.”
15:28Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.