NHS England has prohibited the use of puberty blockers at gender-identity clinics, limiting it to research settings:
New clinics will open to offer care for minors with gender dysphoria:
Multiple other European countries strictly control minors' access to puberty blockers, although most of them don't have a ban similar to England's. Other countries in the UK also haven't adopted this policy.
What are your thoughts on the decision of NHS England?
Children will no longer be prescribed puberty blockers at gender identity clinics, NHS England has confirmed.
Puberty blockers, which pause the physical changes of puberty such as breast development or facial hair, will now only be available to children as part of clinical research trials.
Fewer than 100 young people are currently on puberty blockers and they will be able to continue their treatment. These children are being seen by specialist endocrine services at Leeds and University College London Hospital.
The decision comes after a public consultation on the issue and an NHS England-commissioned independent review in 2020 of gender identity services for children under 18.
New clinics will open to offer care for minors with gender dysphoria:
In February 2022, Dr Cass published an interim report saying there was a need to move away from one unit and recommended the creation of regional services to better support youngsters.
The NHS has said children attending these clinics will be supported by clinical experts in neurodiversity, paediatrics and mental health, “resulting in a holistic approach to care”.
Around 250 patients are expected to be transferred to the new clinics from Gids when they open and some 5,000 more children and young people are currently on the waiting list for referral into the new clinics.
Dr Cass also pointed to a lack of long-term evidence and data collection on what happens to children and young people who are prescribed medication.
NHS says children to no longer receive puberty blockers at gender identity clinics
Puberty blockers, which pause the physical changes of puberty such as breast development or facial hair, will now only be available to children as part of clinical research trials
www.independent.co.uk
Multiple other European countries strictly control minors' access to puberty blockers, although most of them don't have a ban similar to England's. Other countries in the UK also haven't adopted this policy.
What are your thoughts on the decision of NHS England?