Updates from the Gender affirming (genital) surgery service

Current status

As at 30 April 2023, there were 416 referrals on the active wait list for a first specialist assessment. 74 out of the 416 referrals have had their first specialist assessment.

The Service is reviewing the current tranche of patients who were referred between October 2018 and May 2019 before a first specialist assessment (FSA) can be offered. The service has updated its process as now patients must have their General Practitioner (GP) complete the updated health and wellbeing questionnaire form to enable the service to have an accurate account of their current health status before a First Specialist Appointment (FSA) can be offered.

The Service sent updated health requests to 29 of the 50 patients within this tranche with 14 patients in total responding and providing health updates from their GPs. Two of the 14 patients responded by asking to be removed from the waitlist and 15 patients have not responded to our initial contact. The Service will continue to provide updates each month on any changes or progress made.

It is important that you contact us immediately if you decide you no longer want to be considered for an FSA/no longer want surgery, or if your email, home address, phone number or GP has changed. Email us at gender.surgery@health.govt.nz to let us know about any changes.

So far two surgeries have been performed in 2023, and an additional two surgeries were cancelled due to patient’s personal circumstances preventing surgery being undertaken. Several other additional patients declined surgery dates that had been scheduled, due to their personal circumstances. Two further surgeries are scheduled for June 2023.  

Wrap around health and wellbeing support for the Service

Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand is working closely with the service provider to improve service delivery, with increased provision of wrap around services. 

The wrap around services will include the establishment of several new roles to provide more intensive health and wellbeing support for patients on the waiting list for an FSA and/or preparing for surgery. 

New referrals to the service

The chart below sets out the number of new referrals received by quarter between January 2013 and 31 March 2023.

Overall, 78 percent of the referrals are for feminising surgery and 22 percent are for masculinising surgery.

The number of people referred to the waitlist increased by over 160 percent between October 2018 and 30 September 2020.

We are currently giving priority for a first specialist assessment (FSA) to referrals of the longest wait patients.

• March 2023 update (PDF, 111 KB)
• February 2023 update (PDF, 128 KB)
• January 2023 update (PDF, 144 KB)
• December 2022 update (PDF, 126 KB)
• November 2022 update (PDF, 149 KB)
• October 2022 update (PDF, 57 KB)
• September 2022 update (PDF, 69 KB)
• August 2022 update (PDF, 68 KB)
• July 2022 update (PDF, 123 KB)
• June 2022 update (PDF, 76 KB)
• May 2022 update (PDF, 115 KB)
• April 2022 update (PDF, 57 KB)
• March 2022 update (PDF, 143 KB)
• February 2022 update (PDF, 142 KB)
• January 2022 update (PDF, 147 KB)
• December 2021 update (PDF, 173 KB)
• November 2021 update (PDF, 149 KB)
• October 2021 update (PDF, 162 KB)
• September 2021 update (PDF, 142 KB)
• August 2021 update (PDF, 151 KB)
• July 2021 update (PDF, 162 KB)