Smith questions Government commitment on trans healthcare

Mike Finnerty 22 Jan 2024

Labour TD Duncan Smith has accused Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly for failing to engage with transgender advocacy groups.

The Fingal TD raised a Dáil question about the Minister’s engagement (“or lack thereof”) with groups that advocate for advances in transgender healthcare.

Donnelly responded “I do not think that dig is fair,” and stated that he is “happy” to meet stakeholders and had previously met with TENI.

He stated “I am committed to the development of a model of care that delivers proper services for this group of people. It is a very small and very vulnerable group of people and they need to have access to proper, appropriate and integrated care, including acute care and community care.”

“Quite frankly, as we all know, they do not have access to that in Ireland right now and I am not satisfied with that.”

He stated that the pace of advancing transgender healthcare was not satisfactory to him, and said there has been a “hold-up” in appointing a psychiatrist to deliver a new model of care.

“The HSE is going to consult widely with stakeholders, including TENI and others, in the development of the new model of care. The HSE is working to identify new pathways. As we know, the Tavistock centre has now been decommissioned and the UK health authorities have opened different centres on the back of the Cass report. Ultimately, we need those services available to people in Ireland and that is the objective.”

Smith said that Trans Healthcare Action and TENI need more engagement than they are presently receiving from Govermnent and more needs to be done to communicate with them.

“They do not feel they are getting the engagement they need. We really need to see that to provide confidence to these groups and to this community that they are being listened to and being heard,” he said.

Donnelly said he is happy to meet with the groups, but he said that “ultimately they need to be talking to the people who are designing the model of care.”

“Of course, it can be useful to talk to a Minister but really, they need direct input into the model of care that is being developed.”

Smith acknowledged that Donnelly has “bona fides” in wanting to progress the issue, but more “action and engagement” was needed on the ground.

“It is a community of which I am not a member but when I speak to advocacy organisations, I hear what they are saying and I think the Minister hears them too.

Donnelly stated “we cannot have a situation where we are developing a model of care for a group of people who are not involved and whose voices are not heard. We are trying, although it does not always work and we are not always successful, to move to a situation where the patient voice is front and centre in everything we do.”

“If the trans community feels that they are outside the door and nobody is listening to them, then whatever is happening is clearly not working and needs to be looked at. I commit to going back to the Department and the HSE on this. I will also ask them to revert to the Deputy with a note on what actions can be taken.”