Brighton GP practice investigated for prescribing trans hormones to children

Telegraph

17 hours ago

An investigation into a GP clinic in Brighton that prescribed transgender hormones to children has been launched by the NHS.
The WellBN GP practice, which runs three clinics in Sussex, was ordered by health service leaders to stop prescribing cross-sex hormones to under 18s and the NHS has now launched a 'rapid investigation'.
The NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board, which oversees the region's health services, said that the actions of GPs at WellBN 'may fall outside of national clinical policy and guidance'.
'Following concerns raised about some prescribing for children and young people by WellBN in Brighton and Hove, that may fall outside of national clinical policy and guidance, we are working with NHS England and have launched a rapid investigation into this activity to determine the most appropriate care and treatment for these patients,' it said.
The administration of cross-sex drugs, also known as gender-affirming hormones, involves giving hormones such as testosterone to help someone change their physical appearance. They are different to puberty blockers, which stop the onset of puberty by suppressing the release of hormones.
The Cass review, led by the paediatrician Baroness Hilary Cass, said all under 18s questioning their gender should be seen by a team of experts for a range of conditions, including mental health issues and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, before any treatment is considered.
'Extreme caution' recommended
The independent review concluded that medical pathways to change genders had been 'built on shaky foundations' and called for puberty blockers to be banned, citing the 'weak evidence' to support their use in this group of patients. It urged 'extreme caution' in relation to cross-sex hormones in under 18s.
But WellBN continued to prescribe the drugs, claiming on its website that it would prescribe the hormones to patients with a referral to a gender identity clinic while they waited for an appointment, and that it would also arrange a referral for any patients who did not have one.
The GP practice is already the subject of a legal challenge by the parents of Child O, an anonymous 16-year-old boy, who claimed their child was prescribed cross-sex hormones without having been properly assessed by a gender-identity clinic and without their knowledge.
The clinic previously said it had 'fully considered and responded back to the correspondence received from the family's representatives and will engage fully on any next steps'.
It also said it is 'confident that any young patients under the age of 18 are assessed in accordance with good medical practice', adding: 'Gillick competence and bodily autonomy are at the heart of all care we offer and this framework is consistently applied.'
'Trans health hub'
The practice operates a 'trans health hub' and patients - of which it says around 2,000 are trans or non-binary - can receive annual check-ups with 'a supportive and affirming clinician'.
It has defended its prescribing of hormones to under 18s based on an 'informed consent pathway', which it says 'sets out the risks, potential side effects and reversible and irreversible intended effects of hormone therapy'.
It comes after Wes Streeting last month ordered a review into the use of cross-sex hormones in children, which could join puberty blockers in being banned for use in under 18s to treat gender dysphoria.
NHS Sussex said the majority, but not all, of the children being prescribed cross-sex hormones by the clinic lived in the region and that it would be reviewing each case to consider next steps for their treatment and care.
'The cohort of patients whose cases are being reviewed are all aged under 18, and for whom WellBN is prescribing or arranging the supply of medication for gender dysphoria,' it said.
'There will be a process to review their notes, and consider next steps in their treatment, in line with national guidance and clinical advice.'
Temporary pause
It said there would be 'different outcomes for different patients', with some referred to specialist NHS gender services, others seen by local mental health services, while some would have their hormone treatment reviewed.
WellBN revealed last week that the NHS had 'forced us to temporarily pause initiating new NHS prescriptions for gender-affirming care to anyone under the age of 18', including a ban on taking on prescriptions from private sector providers.
It vowed to try to 'turn this decision around' and said it would be meeting with NHS Sussex.
Rachel Cashman, co-founder of community group PSHE Brighton, said she welcomed the investigation, adding that parents she had spoken with had been 'concerned' about WellBN's approach to treating under 18s with gender issues for some time.
' Gender distressed children deserve the most clinically efficacious treatment,' she said. 'PSHE Brighton welcomes an investigation by NHS England into the care provided by this service'.