Cardiff and Vale University Health Board confirmed on Tuesday that some patients who had been awaiting gender-affirming surgery were already in hospital for their procedures when they were told of the suspension.

Gender-affirming surgery encompasses both masculinising and feminising procedures, which often involve reshaping the genitalia. The procedures are irreversible.

The Welsh Gender Service provides referrals for patients living in Wales, but all NHS surgeries are carried out in England.

Reform UK and the Welsh Conservatives both welcomed the decision to pause surgeries.

Ap Gwynfor said that, while he respected the decision was taken on the basis of clinical evidence, he had questions for the NWJCC.

"I want to understand how long this review will take, what form will it take and to make sure that people out there know that services are there and that they can depend on the NHS in Wales to help them out in their hour of need," he said.

A letter, signed by 26 of Plaid Cymru's 28 backbench Senedd members, was sent to the chairman of the NWJCC, Ian Green, on Monday, expressing "profound disappointment" with the decision.

The letter, which emerged on Thursday, added the development had "caused distress, fear and a deep sense of uncertainty" among the trans community, "at a time when the rights and dignity of trans people across the UK are increasingly under pressure".

The group asked the NWJCC to set out what specifically had led to their cause for concern regarding the number of referrals and asked when surgeries and referrals would resume.

Reform's Welsh leader, Dan Thomas, said that "sensible-minded people in Wales" would welcome the suspension, adding there was "more to do to ensure a comprehensive review of the service".

Natasha Asghar, Welsh Conservative spokesperson for health, had earlier called for a review of the service.

She said cancelling surgeries was "absolutely the right thing to do".