Latest news with #BaronessCass
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Brighton GP practice investigated for prescribing trans hormones to children
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'.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Streeting considers banning cross-sex hormones for trans teenagers
Cross-sex hormones could be banned for transgender teenagers under proposals being considered by Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary. The Government has launched a review into the use of the hormones in under-18s to treat teenagers who want to change gender. Experts will analyse the available evidence and recommend a decision in July, officials said, raising the prospect that they could be outlawed in the UK in the same way as puberty blockers. The cross-sex drugs, also known as gender-affirming hormones, involve giving testosterone to someone born female to help change their physical appearance, and estrogen to those born male. They differ from puberty blockers, which have been banned indefinitely in the UK for treating gender dysphoria outside a clinical trial. Puberty blockers stop the onset of puberty by suppressing the release of hormones which are vital for physical and psychological development. The puberty blocker ban came as a result of the Cass Review, led by Baroness Hilary Cass, who found that treatment for gender dysphoria had 'been built on shaky foundations'. But campaigners have criticised the Government's failure to intervene on cross-sex hormones in children. NHS England responded to the review by Lady Cass, noting her recommendation that 'the new providers should be 'extremely cautious' when considering whether to refer young people under 18 years for consideration of hormone intervention'. The NHS's inaction on cross-sex hormones has led to at least two legal challenges, including a pretrial hearing on Wednesday led by Keira Bell, a former patient of the Tavistock clinic who received drugs and surgery to become a trans man but has since 'detransitioned'. In a High Court ruling delivered by Lady Justice Whipple, she said it would be 'premature' to take the case to court given that the Government was now considering a ban. She also rejected the Ms Bell's argument that it had been 'irrational' for Mr Streeting to look at puberty blockers first rather than both groups of drugs together, but noted 'the very serious issues which underpin this case ... and the claimant's motivation to prevent harm'. Ms Bell said she was 'relieved that the Secretary of State is now actively considering a ban on cross-sex hormones outside of the NHS' despite this being 'long overdue'. 'These powerful drugs should not be given to children and young people. Not only are the drugs life-changing at a time when so much is uncertain and changing, but so many children and young people are struggling with trauma and are experiencing confusion during their development,' she said. 'The safety of vulnerable children and young people should be a first priority. It now looks like that is beginning to happen.' A spokesman for Bayswater Support Group, one of the claimants, which supports families with transgender children, said they welcomed the commitment to scrutinise private providers prescribing the hormones, but added 'we must not forget the many children who have already been harmed by the failure to halt this practice as soon as the harms became evident'. They said it had been 'clear that banning puberty blockers alone would not be enough to protect children ', and they were 'supporting hundreds of families who have to live with the distress and trauma of being unable to protect their child from harm' because of the negligence of those who should be protecting patients against malpractice. 'We hope the Government, regulators and the Royal Colleges reflect on why it took vulnerable parents and victims of medical abuse to get the DHSC to act,' they added. Dr Alice Hodkinson, one of the founders of Biology in Medicine, a doctors' campaign group, said cross-sex drugs should not be prescribed to any young people 'given the negative effects on fertility as well as the developing body and brain'. 'Distressed young people should instead be directed to supportive, holistic talking therapies that help them to become comfortable with their body and sexuality, so they can grow up into healthy adults.' It comes after The Telegraph revealed last week that nursery-aged children could be allowed gender treatment after the NHS watered down its guidance. Gender clinics for children with gender dysphoria were set to be limited to those aged seven and over, but the age limit was removed following a consultation. New data revealed as many as nine children under five have been referred to a gender identity clinic, which require a referral from a paediatrician or mental health service with sufficient concern about the child questioning their gender. The NHS said it was complying with the Cass review's recommendation not to set an age limit, and that any care for children aged under seven would focus on family support and advice. The Labour Party is divided on both children's gender treatment and the Supreme Court's ruling on biological sex. While Mr Streeting has banned puberty blockers and pledged to ensure women-only spaces in NHS hospitals would not include trans women. Other Labour MPs have vocally opposed both of these decisions. A Department for Health spokesman said: 'Children's healthcare must always be led by evidence. That is why this Government is implementing the recommendations from the Cass review and acted immediately to extend the puberty blockers ban and make it permanent. 'We are continuing our work with the NHS to reform gender services to ensure young people receive timely, holistic care and support, while reviewing the use of cross-sex hormones in line with recommendation eight of the Cass review.'
