The Prime Minister says gender therapy should be approached with “extreme caution” as a new report says children are underperforming in gender services.

NHS England said it will now suspend first appointments at adult clinics for under-18s and intends to conduct a major review of its adult gender services and the use of hormones.

The report by Dr Hilary Kass found “very weak evidence” to support gender therapy in children.

The ‘toxicity of debate’ doesn’t help matters either, people are afraid of discussion transgender The issue is public, she said.

Pediatrician criticizes her current system Report Gender identity services are provided for children and adolescents.

Dr Cass made 32 recommendations, including that gender services be run “to the same standards” as other children’s health services.

EXPLAINER: What gender treatments are currently available to children?

She recommended “extreme caution” and “clear clinical justification for hormones at this stage, rather than waiting until the individual reaches 18 years of age”.

Dr Kass said current policies around giving children testosterone or estrogen from the age of 16 should also be reviewed immediately.

Addressing young people, she wrote: “I am disappointed by the lack of evidence on the long-term effects of taking hormones from an early age; the research is failing us all and, most importantly, you.”

It’s also important to make sure parents “don’t unconsciously influence their children’s gender expression,” she said.

Dr. Kass also recommends “a comprehensive evaluation,” including a mental health assessment and screening for conditions such as autism.

‘We don’t have good long-term evidence’

A review of 50 studies of puberty blockers and 53 studies of hormone treatments for the report found a “lack of high-quality research” on the use of these drugs in young people.

“The reality is that we do not have sufficient evidence on the long-term effects of interventions to manage gender-related distress,” Dr Kass said.

A few weeks after the publication NHS Children diagnosed in England Puberty blockers will no longer be prescribed outside of research trials.

Less than two weeks before coming under intense scrutiny Gender Identity Development Services (GIDS) London closes and is replaced by two new hubs.

The review was commissioned by NHS England four years ago The number of people seeking help for gender issues has increased dramatically.

Although there is a lack of evidence on the use and long-term effects of early medical interventions, there is particular interest in these interventions.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak welcomed the review, saying: “It is in line with our approach on this issue”.

“Of course we must treat children who question their gender with compassion and sensitivity, but we must recognize that we need to proceed with extreme caution in these areas because we simply don’t know what the long-term effects will be. By all means, “He said.

Minister for Victims and Safety Laura Farris told Sky News the findings of the review would lead to a “fundamental change of direction”, with work starting after the release of an interim version of the report.

She said: “We will set up regional support centers across the UK so that children who question their gender can be given a comprehensive package of support, rather than just following an irreversible path where they may find themselves without access as adults. Support.” and then wonder how on earth they were allowed to take these steps. “

Concern reports ‘easily misinterpreted’

Mermaid, a charity that supports trans young people, said the report “recognizes that the current system is failing for trans young people”.

The charity criticized “shocking waiting lists of more than six years, almost no first appointments for more than a year, and the increasing politicization of support for children and young people”.

It added: “Trans young people tell us they want accepting and respectful services that provide supportive spaces to explore their gender and provide opportunities for medical transition if they need it.

“We are pleased that the voices and experiences of trans young people appear to be heard and respected, and we welcome Dr Cass’s call to ‘treat trans children and young people and their families with compassion and respect’.”

But Mermaid added that it was also concerned that some of the language in the report “could easily be misinterpreted” and “could be used to provide additional barriers for some trans young people to access care, as was the case with the interim report”.

“We call on NHS England and NHSs across the UK to stand up to pressure from those seeking to restrict access to care, listen directly to the voices of trans young people and take urgent action to provide Prompt, supportive and comprehensive gender services,” the charity added.

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‘Wrong’ service leaves children ‘very disappointed’

Psychiatrist Dr David Bell, who wrote a critical report into gender services in 2018, told Sky News that Dr Cass’s review made clear the affirmative model – accepting when children express themselves as trans ——”It is a completely wrong clinical position”.

“The correct clinical stance is to be neutral, to explore, to understand all the other multiple issues that these children are expressing through their distress about gender,” he said.

“These children have many complex problems and are very disappointed, first and foremost because of inadequate access to care, and there are huge concerns about the damage that puberty blockers cause to children.

“But other issues they had were not being addressed properly either…Clinical services followed ordinary clinical care guidelines.

“Instead, what happens is that they are completely captured by the transgender ideology, so it becomes an ideological issue rather than a clinical issue, and that’s how the damage is done.”

“Falling off the edge of a cliff”

Other recommendations include providing “follow-up services” for 17 to 25-year-olds, with Dr Cass warning that teenagers are “falling off the edge” in care.

She also urged a “more cautious approach” to children than teenagers when it comes to social transformation – where someone might change their pronouns, name and clothing.

The pediatrician said her comments were “not intended to define what it means to be transgender or to undermine the validity of transgender identity.”

However, she warned that strong emotions over transgender issues were having a damaging impact.

She said experienced clinicians were sometimes “dismissed and ineffective”, while younger people were “caught up in stormy social discourse”.

“In healthcare, professionals are afraid to discuss their views openly and people are vilified on social media with name-calling that echoes the worst forms of bullying. This has to stop,” she wrote.

She warned that “polarizing and silencing debate” could also hinder important research in areas where “the evidence is very weak”.

In response, NHS England said it had made “significant progress” in establishing “fundamentally differentiated gender services for children and young people” based on Dr Cass’s previous recommendations and “extensive public consultation and engagement”.

A spokesman said: “After careful consideration of this final report and its recommendations, we will develop a comprehensive implementation plan. The NHS is also progressing a systematic review of adult gender services and has written to local NHS leaders asking for They are suspending first appointments at adult gender clinics for young people under 18.”