Latest news with #CairnsSexualHealthService
The Guardian
30-01-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Queensland's puberty blockers ban has potential to cause harm, sex discrimination commissioner says
The Queensland government's ban on puberty blockers for new patients seeking treatment for gender issues is 'discriminatory', according to the state's only dedicated LGBTQI youth service, as the national sex discrimination commissioner warns the decision may harm young people. Sex discrimination commissioner, Anna Cody, said the decision 'has the potential to harm the physical and mental wellbeing of children in Queensland who are currently awaiting care'. The Australian Human Rights Commission will contact the state government over 'our concerns', she said. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email 'Our concern is that restricting access will create trauma to young people who will be unable to access treatments in a timely manner,' she said. The week, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, announced a ban on puberty blockers for all new patients of the state's only gender clinic, at the Royal Brisbane hospital, and for other patients in the public health system, until the government considers the outcome of an independent review into the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors experiencing gender dysphoria. Nicholls said the review was sparked by reports that paediatric gender services were being given to children at the far north's Cairns Sexual Health Service without proper medical support and parental consent. In response, the Cairns and Hinterland Health and Hospital Service said an internal review had found 'process issues' with the clinic, but that there had been no evidence of patient harm. The service's chief executive, Leena Singh, welcomed the government's investigation and 'the opportunity it presents to improve delivery of our services'. But Rachel Hines, CEO of the Open Doors Youth Service, said the government's ban on hormone treatments was 'discriminatory'. 'The fact that it's only trans young people that can't access this life-saving medication; I think it goes against the Human Rights Act and I think it's highly discriminatory.' Hines said the political debate would have 'huge impacts on the trans community'. 'It's not just the impact of not being able to access gender-affirming care but the discrimination they experience out in the community,' she said. Under the decision, children will still be able to access puberty blockers to treat other health issues such as precocious puberty. Children already on a treatment plan for gender dysphoria – nearly 600 in total – can still access puberty blockers and hormones, but the ban will affect the 491 people on the waiting list of the state's gender clinic. One of those affected is Chris's* son Liam*. Liam has been waiting for more than a year for hormone replacement therapy, and was due to get his first round of treatment in March. They aren't sure how long that will be delayed as a result of the ban. Liam saw the news on Tuesday and his father said he had never seen him more distressed. He stayed up all night to be with his son. 'I strongly believe that if he doesn't receive HRT, I don't believe he'll make the end of this year,' Chris said. The government refused to answer questions about their plans for trans healthcare before last year's October state election. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Nicholls also cited the Cass Review, commissioned by the UK's National Health Service and released in April that year, as one of the reasons for the ban. In December, the UK Labour government announced an indefinite ban on puberty blockers for under-18s with gender dysphoria except for use in clinical trials. The Cass review's findings were not adopted by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, and gender-affirming healthcare is endorsed by a number of organisations including the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Endocrine Society of Australia. Last year, a review of Queensland's sole dedicated public gender clinic found its clinical practice was 'consistent with the current national and international guidelines' and that it should be doubled in size. The new LNP government rejected the review's recommendations earlier this month and reversed a decision by the previous government to expand the service. 'There is a very significant amount of concern about children going down that pathway and the long-term effects … without an understanding of those long-term effects,' Nicholls said on Tuesday. LGBTIQ+ Health Australia CEO, Nicky Bath, said that 'no other effective life-saving healthcare provision would be ceased while a review takes place'. 'Accessing gender-affirming care that includes the careful prescribing of hormone therapies must not be treated differently.' The Queensland health minister has been contacted for comment. * Names have been changed to protect the identity of a child. – With additional reporting by Australian Associated Press In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. Other international helplines can be found at
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Puberty blockers paused in one state
Queensland has put a temporary hold on children accessing puberty blockers after concerns were raised over a young child accessing the service. Health minister Tim Nicholls confirmed an independent review into puberty blockers will be carried out after a 12-year-old was prescribe a puberty blocker by the Cairns Sexual Health Service in May 2024. Mr Nicholls said there were concerns with clinical decision making, including the lack of multidisciplinary consultation, which must be held for all young people 14 years and under who seek to commence treatment with puberty blockers as best practice. A preliminary review found the service of Stage 1 hormone therapy, known as puberty blockers, and Stage 2 hormone therapy, known as gender affirming hormones, were being administered in a way that might not have a aligned with Australian guidelines. 'The Cairns Sexual Health Service delivered an apparently unauthorised pediatric gender service without an agreed model of care,' Mr Nicholls said. 'The service was delivered to 42 pediatric gender services clients, 17 of whom were prescribed Stage 1 or Stage 2 hormone therapy. 'A recent internal review undertaken of the CSHS identified deficiencies relating to credentialing and scope of practice and medico legal concerns relating to patient and parental consent. 'Clinical variation and delay was identified, including delayed blood tests or bone mineral density tests in some patients. 'The client records did not meet minimum standards for documentation around multidisciplinary team discussions or consensus. 'Reference to fertility discussions and referral to private fertility specialists was inconsistent. 'In short, assessment, diagnosis and treatment may not have aligned with Australian treatment guidelines.' The clinic was ordered to suspend any intake of clients under the age of 18 in November. The government confirmed on Tuesday it the clinic will now be subjected to an investigation and further clinical review, after it received advice regarding the next steps to be taken in relation to disclosure to patients and families regarding consent matters and clinical concerns. 'The Part 6 clinical review will focus on the health services delivered to patients through the service,' Mr Nicholls said. 'It's critical that children and adolescents with gender dysphoria receive appropriate diagnosis, care and treatment. 'The Part 9 health service investigation will examine the governance framework and pathways of clinical care processes for paediatric gender services. 'The findings of the investigation and clinical review will be used in the assessment of pediatric gender services across Queensland, not just for the Cairns and Hinterland HHS.' Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown said the decision to put a pause on hormone treatment would be detrimental to the health of young people. 'This will be catastrophic for young trans people and their families when the evidence on the benefits of hormone treatments is clear and well established,' Ms Brown said. 'This move is at odds with the current evidence base, expert consensus, health services in all other Australian states and territories and the majority of clinical guidelines around the world. 'Only last year a review in Queensland found that practices in the state's gender clinics were safe and evidence based, recommending increased funding and capacity to reach regional areas. 'Governments should stay out of these deeply personal decisions and leave it to young people, their parents and the expert doctors treating them.' The service has had 547 children and adolescents actively receiving care as of June 2024. Mr Nicholls said the review will assist in ensuring the correct medical support is given to children across the state. 'There is contested evidence surrounding the benefits of Stage 1 and Stage 2 hormone therapy for children and adolescents with gender dysphoria emerging from studies throughout the world,' he said. 'France, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden have all tightened regulations around prescribing hormone therapy to children and adolescents. 'More recently, the Government of the United Kingdom has changed legislation to restrict the prescription and supply of puberty blockers to children. 'The Queensland Government has already announced on 4 January 2025 that it does not support expansion of the Queensland Children's Gender Service (QCGS) and it has paused further delivery of the evaluation recommendations, pending further consideration by government. 'Queensland has not yet undertaken its own review of the evidence for Stage 1 and Stage 2 hormone therapy. 'There is a need to maintain confidence in public health services, particularly those delivered by Queensland Health for children. 'The Director-General will also issue a Health Service Directive to pause the intake of new patients under the age of 18 years for Stage 1 and Stage 2 hormone therapy in Queensland Health facilities. 'Patients who are already on a treatment plan with QCGS would be exempt, similar to the steps implemented in the UK.' But Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH) chief executive Eloise Brook said medical practitioners followed guidelines established through research and clinical evidence to ensure clients receive the best care. 'Hormone treatments for the small number of young people who need them are essential health care,' she said. 'The evidence shows that denying access to this care will cause young people immeasurable trauma, contributing to depression, anxiety and in some cases self-harm.'
The Guardian
28-01-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Queensland halts prescription of puberty blockers and hormones for children with gender dysphoria
Children with gender dysphoria will be denied puberty blockers as a state government reviews hormone therapies for minors. The Queensland government launched the investigation after reports gender-affirming hormones had been given to children as young as 12 without authorised care. Health minister, Tim Nicholls, on Tuesday announced the independent review into the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors experiencing gender dysphoria. The state has immediately paused any new patients under 18 accessing pediatric gender therapies through the public system until the government considers the review's outcome. Kids already on a treatment plan – nearly 600 in total – can still access the services. Children experiencing gender dysphoria but unable to begin hormone therapy will still be able to access psychiatric and psychological support. Nicholls said the review was sparked by reports pediatric gender services were being given to children at the far north's Cairns Sexual Health Service without proper medical support and parental consent. Queensland's Liberal National government said a public interest disclosure was received regarding a 12-year-old being prescribed a puberty blocker without proper consultation in Cairns. Multi-disciplinary consultation must be sought for all under-14s who want to start puberty blockers which involves input from psychologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians and family. Nicholls said an internal review found that the Cairns service provided unauthorised care to 42 children with 17 of those prescribed puberty blockers or hormone therapies. It also found the service had deficiencies in credentialing and scope of practice, kept inadequate client records about multidisciplinary team discussions, and raised concerns about patient and parental consent. There were also delayed blood tests or bone mineral density tests for some patients. 'In short, assessment, diagnosis and treatment may not have aligned with Australian treatment guidelines,' Nicholls said on Tuesday. An investigation into the Cairns clinic is now under way looking at the health services delivered to patients and the governance framework, with a report expected by the end of June. The review into the Cairns service is in addition to a broader statewide investigation into the use of hormone therapies in children and whether there should be more regulations on medical gender-affirming care. Gender-affirming care for young people has come under scrutiny globally with the controversial Cass review in the UK ultimately leading to the National Health Service restricting the use of puberty blockers in children. An independent review in 2024 found Queensland children with gender dysphoria were not being rushed or coerced into receiving puberty blockers or hormones. It did however identify the state's gender services were struggling to keep up with the waitlists, with times blowing out to 577 days depending on the urgency for care. The review said children were entitled to robust care regardless of the debate around puberty blockers, hormones and long-term effects. 'The service … supports the right of the child or adolescent with diverse gender experiences to express themselves and access health care,' it said.
