Five thousand children with gender-related distress awaiting NHS care in England

New gender clinics looking at creative ways' of reducing waiting lists amid shortage of clinicians

Five thousand children and adolescents with gender-related distress are awaiting NHS treatment - yet a shortage of clinicians meant only 12 had been seen at a new London-based gender clinic by the start of this week.

Two newly opened gender centres, in London and Liverpool, are looking at creative ways" of reducing the waiting lists, such as running group sessions with therapists, according to Hilary Cass, the consultant paediatrician who has devised the new, more holistic treatment model for children and adolescents questioning their gender identity.