Rethinking Access to Trans Healthcare in Ireland
By Dr Aidan Kelly, CEO Gender Plus
I hail from Drogheda Co. Louth and, even though it’s been 20 years since I have lived in Ireland, I have always found ways to come back home as regularly as I can.
Back in 2016 - living in London and working at the Tavistock’s Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) and I began travelling to Ireland to run their quarterly clinics at Crumlin Children's Hospital. Four clinics a year, for a hospital serving families from all over the country. It didn't take long to see how far short that was falling. Young people and their families were waiting months between appointments for care that was desperately needed.
That's really where this started for me - as a simple recognition that people needed more than what was available. I began travelling more regularly and to different locations (e.g. Cork and Kerry), and quite quickly that quarterly clinic in Dublin became a monthly clinic serving different areas in Ireland.
Why this continues to matter to me
Trans people in Ireland have faced long waiting lists and limited options through the public health system for years. I don't say that to criticise the system - I know the people working within it are stretched, often making the most of what they have. But I've never been able to shake the feeling that people shouldn't have to wait this long, or travel this far, for basic healthcare that is essential to their wellbeing.
As I was nearing the end of my time at theTavistock, it was that feeling that led me to form Kelly Psychology in 2020, and then Gender Plus - and the Gender Plus Hormone Clinic - in 2023. Over the past few years, we have seen the team grow in both our hormone and psychosocial teams, as we strive to meet demand.
It's also part of why I sit on the HSE Gender Programme Working Group, helping shape what a better national model of care could look like. And why we stepped in to keep GIST (Gender Identity Skills Training) running when its funding was pulled - the training event for healthcare professionals plays a vital role in this space, upskilling clinicians in Ireland to be better equipped to work with their trans patients.
The latest step: Cork
Our latest step is to start a Gender Plus Hormone Clinic in Cork. The clinic will run quarterly to start - headed up by service Director, Paul Carruthers - and for now will serve the trans masculine community, while we look at how the service can grow to meet the wider needs of patients across the country. Booking is open now and the first clinic will run on September 29th.
I know it's not a solution on its own - Cork won't close the access gap in Ireland by itself, and I'm conscious it's a modest start. But it's a genuine step toward care that doesn't require someone to travel to Dublin just to be seen. There may be scope, over time, to bring more of our services - including psychosocial support - to Cork as well.
For now, our focus is on getting this first clinic right for the community it's meant to serve.
What keeps me doing this work
We keep a close eye on how people are responding to the service, because that's how we know whether we're actually getting it right. There's always more we can do, and we'll keep listening and adjusting as patient needs change.
The real measure of progress will be the day people in Ireland no longer have to wait years, or travel hours, for care that should simply be there when they need it. Until that day, we'll keep listening to the needs of the community, and we’ll do our best to respond where the need is greatest - and Cork is just the latest place that's taking us.
To book a session at our new Cork Clinic, visit:
