UK Gender Variance Rates in Calderdale

An earlier report on Calderdale flagged the need to identify the number of people with gender dysphoria in the area.

Calderdale is a local authority area in West Yorkshire that includes Halifax. The area has a population of about 200,000.

NHS Calderdale carried out a survey to identify the number and satisfaction with service and reported in Mar 2009.

The survey used trans as a term for those who had used, were using or intended to use, the gender dysphoria treatment services.

The NHS surveyed trans people directly and also service providers.

The survey found the prevalence to be 1 in 5,000 approximately.

However, the report noted a marked lack of people who had ceased using the services and a similar lack of those who intended to but were not already in the system. It also noted evidence that the survey had not reached all trans people in the area, due to some people choosing to not flag their background, and due to a fragmented support network. The latter is despite the work of Trans Yorkshire, a group of about 10 tackling trans issues in Calderdale.

For these reasons, the report concluded the true prevalence is likely to be more frequent than 1 in 5,000. NB The Transgender EuroStudy report had a prevalence of 1 in 4,000.

The report found a trans-woman to trans-man ratio of 4:1.

The respondents noted Calderdale as a fairly nice and humane place to live.

Nearly everyone surveyed had either gone through SRS or intended to do so.

Only a third of respondents felt their current health needs were being met.

A notable characteristic was the use of a mix of NHS and private services. The report details treatment available on the NHS and that frequently sought, but not provided.

The treatment of adolescents was also flagged as a concern.

A majority of those responding had been or were using services provided by Leeds Gender Identity Clinic.

Full report from NHS Calderdale.


In April 2009, the trans community in Yorkshire was organising letters to be sent to all 37 MPs for the region, complaining about the services offered by the Gender Identity Service at Leeds. The aim was to meet with the MPs in parliament on 19th May to discuss these complaints. It appears that Calderdale is the only area in Yorkshire where patients can choose which gender identity clinic they wish to be referred to.

More on complaints re Leeds GIC