GREEN councillors have called on the NHS to review how it can improve healthcare for trans people.

In a joint letter to Brighton and Hove City Council’s health overview and scrutiny committee, councillors Hannah Clare and Steph Powell called for an investigation on the state of trans healthcare.

The city’s trans equality scrutiny panel in 2013 recommended many improvements to healthcare, including the possibility of opening a gender identity clinic.

However, the duo said in their letter: “Almost ten years later, this goal is no further forward. It has never been more urgent.”

Current figures reveal that over 10,000 people are currently on the waiting list for London’s gender identity clinic, the closest to Brighton and Hove, with those referred facing waits of around five years.

Cllr Clare, who chairs the children, young people and skills committee, said: “In my role, I regularly meet with young people and I’m struck by how many have reported their desire for better access to healthcare.

“Recently, a young person on a school visit I undertook asked me why we had no gender identity clinic in Brighton and Hove.

“Nearly ten years after a request from the city’s trans scrutiny panel, I think this is an incredibly important question which needs an answer.”

A study last year by TransActual found that 98 per cent of trans people surveyed across the UK found transition-related healthcare available on the NHS as not adequate.

Cllr Powell, who co-chairs the tourism, equalities, communities and culture committee, said: “Trans people are right now under constant attack in the press and online and the government’s recent announcement on conversion therapy is a further blow.

“We must do more for our trans residents to help them feel safe and ensure they get the right access to healthcare.

“I hope that the health overview and scrutiny committee can have an in-depth look at this important topic and work with the NHS to introduce any required changes.”

The government has recently attracted criticism after backtracking on commitments to include trans people in upcoming legislation to ban conversion therapy.