Published: Tuesday, 27th July, 2010 12:52pm

Health chiefs spend £20k on sex swap ops

HEALTH chiefs in the Borders have revealed they have spent more than £20,000 on sex swap operations in the past year.

The National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland has spent more than £1.5m over the past five years on sex-change operations for transsexuals.

More than 100 patients have undergone gender reassignment surgery at private clinics and hospitals in England because Scotland lacks the specialist facilities needed to carry out the operations.

A landmark ruling in 1998 by the Court of Appeal in England which recognised gender reassignment therapy as a necessary medical treatment that should be available on the NHS has meant health boards across the UK are required to offer transsexuals hormone treatment and surgery.

However, the level of spending, revealed under Freedom of Information laws, has been criticised by patients' groups and campaigners as a waste of taxpayers' money.

A spokeswoman for NHS Borders said: "Since April 1, 2002, National Service Division (NSD) has a commissioned specialised services provided to residents in Scotland by NHS Trusts in England. This range of services includes gender dysphoria services.

"These services are primarily a financial arrangement through which NSD meets the costs on behalf of NHS Boards from pooled funds. There are, however, certain related procedures that are not covered by NSD funding, and instead are funded directly be Health Boards.

"In the last year, NHS Borders has spent £21,260 on these procedures."