To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the status of the Gender Identification Service pathway review, including specifically reference to (i) the composition of the Service User Group; and (ii) details and status of the proposed associated Advisory Group.

The Gender Identity Pathway Review was temporarily paused to enable the health service to focus on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Work is currently underway to agree a plan to restart the review.

The Gender Identity Review Group comprises representatives of the Health and Social Care Board, my Department, service users, clinicians, General Practitioners, the Belfast Trust, Public Health Agency and the Patient and Client Council. The service users work in the transgender rights community and voluntary sector.

A plan for continuing engagement with the wider voluntary and community sector will be a focus of the restart plan for this work, including the establishment of a service user liaison panel. This panel will facilitate further service user input to the review group.