Sandyford gender clinic bans self-referrals for kids and adults

Glasgow’s gender identity services will no longer accept self-referrals from gender-confused adults and children.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) announced that with immediate effect, patients can only be referred to the Young People’s Gender Service and the Adult Gender Service by their GP or mental health services. The Sandyford clinic, which admits both children and adults, is the only NHS gender service for young people in Scotland.

The updated policy, which does not affect those already waiting for an appointment, is consistent with other clinical specialties.

Cass Report

Maggie Mellon of the social workers group Evidence-Based Social Work Alliance said: “While it is welcome news that there will no longer be self-referral to the Sandyford for or by children, the NHS in Scotland has yet to acknowledge the findings of the Cass report.

“The Sandyford needs to be stopped from accepting any referrals until their work and the outcomes for children they have socially and medically transitioned has been subject to a transparent and robust review.”

According to a recent review, 49 per cent of young people waiting for an appointment were from self-referrals.

Puberty blockers

Last month, senior clinicians advised the Scottish Government to formally ban puberty-blocking drugs for gender-confused children.

The multidisciplinary clinical team, which includes Deputy Chief Medical Officer Graham Ellis and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Alison Strath, agreed that many of Dr Hilary Cass’s recommendations for children’s gender services in England should also be adopted in Scotland.

The Sandyford clinic no longer prescribes puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to newly referred children, but existing patients can still receive the experimental drugs.