The LGBT Foundation and Gendered Intelligence have launched Waiting Well, a new National Trans Waiting List Support Service designed to support trans and non-binary people while they wait for gender identity healthcare. Announced as a South West pilot, the initiative was published on 23/04/2026 17:07 and responds to the growing pressure on services as demand increases. The two organisations say the pilot will offer a mix of practical help, emotional support and information so that people facing long delays do not have to navigate complex systems alone. The launch emphasises collaboration with local NHS services and community groups to ensure safety and usefulness.
Current estimates show around 42,000 people in England and Wales are waiting for specialist gender identity services, underlining the scale of unmet need. Waiting Well targets people at any point in their waiting journey, from initial referral to the point of clinical appointment, providing tailored help that goes beyond clinical assessment. The model includes peer mentors, welfare advice, and signposting to resources that address mental health, housing, and benefits. By offering that breadth of help, the service aims to reduce isolation and improve wellbeing while people wait for NHS care.
What Waiting Well offers
Waiting Well combines community-led support with practical systems navigation to address the non-medical challenges of prolonged waits. Through trained peer workers and partnerships with local services, the pilot will provide one-to-one conversations, group sessions and written guidance to demystify referral pathways and next steps. The project highlights non-clinical support as a complement to medical care, rather than a replacement, and aims to make sure people understand timelines, self-help options and how to escalate concerns when needed. Crucially, the service is designed to be culturally competent and inclusive of diverse gender journeys.
How the pilot will operate
The initial roll-out in the South West will test delivery methods, measure outcomes and gather user feedback for refinement before any wider expansion. Participants can access support remotely and in person, depending on need and local arrangements. Data collection during the pilot will focus on user experience, reductions in distress, and practical indicators such as improved attendance at appointments and better access to welfare resources. Findings will inform a proposed national roll-out, with an emphasis on scalability and integration with NHS pathways to avoid duplication.
Why this matters
Long waits for gender identity assessment and treatment are linked to worsened mental health and poorer life outcomes; delays can intensify anxiety, depression and social isolation. By intervening during the waiting period, Waiting Well aims to mitigate these harms with timely, strengths-based support. The service recognises that many people need more than clinical appointments; practical help with housing, employment and navigating services can make a significant difference to day-to-day stability and resilience. The programme therefore frames waiting time as an opportunity for supportive intervention rather than passive delay.
Voices and partnership
The project is led jointly by LGBT Foundation and Gendered Intelligence, two organisations with extensive experience in community support and co-produced services. Both organisations emphasise that delivery will be shaped by people with lived experience, ensuring services respond to real needs. Engagement with local NHS trusts, commissioners and voluntary groups is central to the design so that the pilot complements existing provision. The partnership approach intends to build trust, improve referral routes and create feedback loops that centre service users in continuous improvement.
Next steps and ambitions for scale
While starting in the South West, the ambition is clear: to develop a sustainable model for a national service that can be adopted across the UK. The organisations expect to use pilot findings to construct an evidence base for funding and to negotiate integration with NHS pathways. Key priorities for expansion include consistent training for peer workers, secure data-sharing agreements with health partners, and a transparent framework for measuring impact. If successful, Waiting Well could become a widely available lifeline for the many people among the 42,000 waiting for NHS gender identity healthcare in England and Wales.