The organisations LGBT Foundation and Gendered Intelligence have announced the launch of Waiting Well, a new National Trans Waiting List Support Service. The initiative began as a South West pilot and is explicitly designed to assist trans and non‑binary people who are on NHS waiting lists for gender identity services. Published: 23/04/2026 17:07, the announcement highlights a service intended to improve the lived experience of long waits and to offer a route towards a broader national programme.
Waiting Well is described as a support service targeted at people navigating the often protracted process of accessing NHS gender identity healthcare. In this context, the term waiting list refers to the formal queues individuals enter while they await assessment or treatment from NHS gender identity services. The organisations involved say the pilot seeks to reduce isolation and make the waiting period more manageable, while also gathering evidence to inform a potential national roll‑out.
What the service is aiming to do
At its core, Waiting Well aims to address the practical and emotional challenges that accompany long NHS waits. The programme is framed as a source of support for those who are currently booked into gender identity pathways, and it aims to provide targeted assistance while people wait for clinical appointments. By positioning itself as a bridge between referral and treatment, the pilot seeks to make the experience of being on a waiting list less disruptive to daily life and wellbeing.
Pilot approach in the South West
The initial phase of Waiting Well is operating as a South West pilot, chosen to trial the model in a defined region before any expansion. This regional start allows the partners to evaluate how best to deliver support across diverse communities and local health systems. The pilot status means the partners can refine service delivery, assess demand and collect learning on what would be required to scale up to other parts of the country.
Ambitions to go national
While the service starts regionally, the stated intention is to extend the offer beyond the South West. Both LGBT Foundation and Gendered Intelligence have indicated plans to use the pilot’s findings to build a national model, with the aim of offering consistent support across England and Wales. The ambition to scale reflects recognition of a widespread need among people waiting for NHS gender identity care.
Why the service matters
The scale of demand is one key reason the initiative has received attention. Around 42,000 people in England and Wales are currently on waiting lists for NHS gender identity services, a figure that illustrates the pressure on existing pathways and the length of time many people must wait. For those individuals, a dedicated support service can make the period before clinical input less taxing and provide a clearer sense of practical guidance while formal care is pending.
Support in the context of long waits
Prolonged waits can affect wellbeing, employment, education and social relationships, so the creation of Waiting Well responds to a spectrum of needs beyond purely medical ones. The programme positions itself as complementary to clinical services, focusing on enhancing quality of life while people await assessment and treatment within NHS gender identity pathways. The emphasis on support recognises that the waiting period is itself a significant part of many people’s healthcare journeys.
Next steps and what to watch
Going forward, LGBT Foundation and Gendered Intelligence will monitor outcomes from the South West pilot to determine how best to adapt and broaden the service. Stakeholders will be watching for evidence on demand, user experience and the practical requirements for national delivery. If the pilot produces positive results, the plan is to evolve Waiting Well into a national offering to assist the substantial number of people on NHS waiting lists for gender identity healthcare.
For individuals affected by these waits, the launch represents a new point of contact aimed at making the intervening months more navigable. For health systems and policy makers, the pilot will provide real‑world data on how additional support services can sit alongside clinical pathways. The combination of regional testing and ambitions for national reach sets the agenda for the next phase of development for Waiting Well.