NHS: ‘Kids should not be referred to gender identity clinics without parental consent’

NHS England has announced its intention to stop children from being referred to gender clinics without parental consent.

In a public consultation on its proposed changes to the Children and Young People’s Gender Incongruence Service’s referral pathway, the NHS said new referrals would only be made following a “shared decision” by the child, family and local service.

A pre-referral consultation would also be required to determine a “local care plan to support the child or young person”, including whether they would benefit from accessing a different service instead.

Complex needs recognised

NHS England said that it made the proposals: “In view of the relatively high number of children and young people who present to gender incongruence services with other complex needs, such as mental health needs, neurodiversity or autism”.

The health service argued that “this arrangement will ensure that a holistic needs assessment is undertaken by the NHS and an individual care plan put in place as appropriate before a referral is made into the specialised gender incongruence service”.

Currently, the NHS allows teachers and social workers to refer gender-confused children of any age without parental consent.

But NHS England has now proposed a minimum age limit of seven years old for referral into the service, even if a younger child has parental consent, after children as young as four have been referred to the Tavistock clinic.

Puberty blockers

Earlier this year, NHS England announced that it planned to no longer ‘routinely commission’ puberty-blocking drugs for gender-confused children and young people.

A spokesman has now reiterated this, stating: “In a separate consultation, NHS England has also proposed that the new specialist children’s gender service will not routinely be able to provide any medical intervention, including the use of puberty blockers, to children under 16 years of age.”

The controversial Tavistock clinic is due to close in March and be replaced by two regional hubs which will operate under interim guidance informed by findings from the Cass Review.