Scotland’s only gender identity clinic for under-18s has suspended prescribing puberty blockers to young people.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) – controls the Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow and Clyde Glasgow – Indicates that the decision was made in landmark review Gender services for under-18s in England and Wales.
Comment by Dr Hilary Kass says children are being let down by lack of research She also reported that the evidence for gender-sensitive medical interventions was “very weak”.
NHS England confirms it will Stop taking puberty blockers March.
NHS Lothian has also officially suspended the prescribing of puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones to new young patients seeking gender-affirming care.
Existing patients currently receiving hormone inhibitors or gender-affirming hormones will not be affected by this pause.
NHSGGC announced the move on Thursday and said it had received support from: Scottish Professor Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer.
In line with clinical advice, NHSGGC and NHS Lothian have postponed the start of treatment for new patients in mid-March in response to the position taken by NHS England while awaiting the publication of the Cass review.
Dr Hilary Kass said the “toxicity” of gender was a serious issue. Image: PA
Now patients have been notified of the formal suspension while the NHSGGC, in partnership with the Scottish Government, conducts a study with NHS England that will provide evidence of the safety and long-term impact of the treatment.
Dr Emilia Crighton, director of public health at NHSGGC, said: “The findings from the Cass Review are very important and we have reviewed the impact on our clinical pathways.
“The next step is to work with the Scottish Government and academic partners to gather evidence that will enable us to provide safe care for patients.
“We agree with Dr Hilary Cass that the toxicity of public debate is affecting the lives of young people seeking our services and working against the teams who work hard to care for and support them.
“We understand the distress that gender non-conformity can cause and, while all referrals to endocrinology have been suspended, we will continue to provide anyone referred to young people’s gender services with the psychological support they need while we follow the findings ”
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Tracey Gillies, executive medical director at NHS Lothian, said patient safety “must always be our priority” so “it is right that we pause this treatment to conduct more research”.
Since the Cass Review was published, the Scottish Government has been under pressure to respond to its findings.
Meghan Gallacher, deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said the Scottish Government was “forced to take necessary action to protect vulnerable young people after days of shameful silence and hesitation in response to the Cass Review”.
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Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray said decisions on clinical pathways should be made by clinicians and health boards.
He added: “That’s what both health boards have done and their position has been supported by the chief medical officer.
“More broadly, the Scottish Government and health boards are closely considering the final report and findings of the Cass review to understand how best to deliver this type of care in Scotland.
“We agree with Dr Hilary Cass, who stressed that an ‘increasingly toxic, ideological and polarizing public debate’ does nothing to help the young people who access this care, their families and the NHS that works hard to care for them. Staff provide service.
“I remain clear that the people most affected by this change are the first to hear sensitively about these changes from the services that look after them, and rightly so. They should be at the forefront of our thoughts when we discuss this issue center. “
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