More than 350 children as young as seven were referred to Scotlands only specialist gender service for under-18s in the past year, it can be revealed.
New data shows that 352 youngsters with identity issues were referred to the Sandyford Gender Clinic in Glasgow between August 1, 2023, and July 31 this year.
Of these, 182 were referred to the clinic by a GP and 130 were by self-referral, including by a parent or carer, with 40 other referrals, such as through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services or Social Work Services.
The youngest child self-referred to the Sandyford Clinic was just seven. The figures, released under Freedom of Information, show there were 598 adults referred to the clinic during the same period with the oldest to self-refer aged 63.
The data reveals the largest proportion, 295 adults, were self-referrals, compared with 276 referred by a GP and 27 others.
New data shows that 352 youngsters with identity issues were referred to the Sandyford Gender Clinic (pictured) in Glasgow between August 1, 2023, and July 31 this year
The Scottish Government recently announced that gender services in Scotland are to be delivered by paediatricians in a regional network of clinical settings instead of at the
Sandyford Clinic, which is Scotlands only specialist service for under-18s.
In another key change, Greater Glasgow & Clyde health chiefs announced in August that access to gender services would only be available in future following referral from clinicians in line with other child and adolescent specialist services.
The changes come five months after the landmark Cass Report warned that children questioning their gender had been let down by a lack of research and remarkably weak evidence on medical interventions.
Public health minister Jenni Minto confirmed earlier this month that the government has accepted a report by Scotlands chief medical officer Professor
Sir Gregor Smith entitled Cass Review: Implications for Scotland.
Dr Hilary Cass is the Chair of the Independent Review of gender identity services for children and young people and provided the Cass Review - a full report and recommendations over gender identity and young people - to NHS England
It followed the review of gender identity services by Dr Hilary Cass which had been commissioned by NHS England and prompted an examination of how its recommendations would affect Scotland.
Published in April, it called for gender services in England for young people to match the standards of other NHS care amid growing concerns about the number of children being treated for gender dysphoria.
Youngsters were found to have been let down by a lack of research, and puberty blockers for gender-questioning children were stopped after the review.
Let down by lack of research