NHS England to review trans policies for kids and adults

The NHS is set to review the transgender procedures it provides for both children and adults, following the Cass Review’s long-awaited final report.

In a letter seen by The Daily Telegraph, NHS England’s National Director for Specialised Commissioning, John Stewart, said it will launch an evidence review and public consultation on cross-sex hormones for young people, after it recently updated its policy to continue 16-year-olds’ access to the drugs.

Dr Hilary Cass, who led the independent review of gender identity services for children and young people, concluded that giving trans drugs to children is based on “remarkably weak evidence”. She urged the NHS to review its use of cross-sex hormones and ensure that gender-confused children receive a holistic assessment of all their needs. But the report left open the possibility of drugs for whom it is “clinically indicated”.

‘Systemic review’

An NHS spokesman claimed it had already made “significant progress” in line with earlier advice from Dr Hilary Cass, by “stopping the routine use of puberty suppressing hormones and opening the first of up to eight new regional centres delivering a different model of care”.

But he said it will “set out a full implementation plan following careful consideration of this final report and its recommendations”, along with a “systemic review of adult gender services”.

Local NHS leaders have been instructed to pause first appointments for 16 and 17-year-olds who have been referred to adult gender clinics.

‘Modern-day scandal’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed the Cass Review’s findings, stating: “We simply do not know the long-term impact of medical treatment or social transitioning on them, and we should therefore exercise extreme caution.”

Former Health Secretary Sajid Javid commented: “Whilst the findings are not surprising, they are no less sickening. Quite simply, ideology replaced the best interests of children, thousands of whom have now been failed in this modern-day scandal.”

“Across political parties, we need to reassess how effective the commitment is to protecting children and keeping this militant gender lobby at bay; otherwise, this review will be wasted.”

Tavistock

Last week, the Tavistock Clinic’s replacement services started offering mental health support for gender-confused young people.

Following the Tavistock’s closure, regional hubs at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and Alder Hey in Liverpool are now operating under guidance informed by the Cass Review’s interim report, which was published in 2022.

A spokesperson for the NHS Children’s and Young People’s Gender Service (London) stated: “Our service is built around supporting the whole person, considering their physical and mental health, including emotional, psychological and social needs.

“As an NHS specialist commissioned service, we are closely following NHS England guidelines informed by Dr Cass’s interim report. We will continue to do so pending any changes that may follow from NHSE’s response to the Cass Review’s final report.”